Porcelain dental bridges complete your smile, restore healthy function and self-confidence
At Innovative Dental Care, we recognize that each patient brings varied experiences with dentistry, personal characteristics, needs, long-term goals, budgets, habits, and numerous other factors. For this reason, we offer multiple options within each category of dental services – be it preventative, general, restorative, or cosmetic dentistry. After all, what is in your best interests, may not be in the best interests of a family member or friend with similar needs from the outset.
Case in point, from our Omaha, Nebraska office, Dr. Summer Gutschow may, in partnership with you, arrive at porcelain dental bridges as a way to rebuild missing teeth. However, the bridge that may be appropriate for you may not be as suitable or desirable to another patient who requires tooth replacement. There are options.
The “conventional” bridge
Patients with some healthy teeth and a few scattered missing teeth may be good candidates for this type of bridge. The neighboring teeth support the replacement tooth (or “pontic”). These adjacent abutment teeth must be crowned to serve as anchors and hold up the pontic. All crowns require the removal of some tooth structure. That way, each crown fits over the tooth properly. Due to this aspect of the process, the traditional dental bridge is not the most conservative option. After all, it does not preserve natural tissues.
With proper care, these bridges can last for years; however, it is vital to clean underneath the bridge properly. To assist with this adequate cleaning, we can show you how to use floss threaders or other products.
The implant bridge
This type of dental bridge is supported by implants positioned in the jawbone. The dental implant is a cylindrical-shaped post. It is made from biocompatible materials or designed to naturally and safely join tissues in the jaw. Once the implant has healed or joined to the rest of the bone, it can function as a tooth root. So, after the crown or bridge is placed on top of (and connected to) the implant, the replacement tooth (or teeth) is quite literally “rooted” in the jaw. This dental bridge does not rely on other teeth for its support. Implant-retained teeth can also be maintained like natural teeth, requiring no unique cleaning products or techniques.
The specific design of the implants or system depends on factors such as the number of teeth that have been lost or that will require extraction. Generally, a single crown can be retained by a single implant. In contrast, strategically-positioned implants can support a few, several, or all of the missing teeth in the upper or lower jaws.
At Innovative Dental Care, we design implants so that a maximum number of teeth are supported with a minimal number of implants, which presents a more affordable, less time-consuming, and comparatively conservative experience. Your complete smile (and self-confidence!) is right around the corner – at Innovative Dental Care. We are proud to serve patients’ oral health needs from throughout metro Omaha-Council Bluffs, including Bennington, Elkhorn, Gretna, and Blair. Call (402) 933-8005 to schedule your visit today!
Dental Bridges
A bridge is a non-surgical way to replace one or many teeth. A bridge uses the adjacent teeth as anchors to support the missing tooth or teeth. With today’s dental advancements, a bridge can be fabricated in a fairly short period of time, using a metal or nonmetal foundation. Don’t let that missing tooth affect the way you speak, eat, and smile. Bridges yield immediate results that last a lifetime. Ask your dentist what type of bridge may be right for you.