Dental Bridges in Davie, FL
A bridge closes the gap left by a missing tooth by anchoring to the teeth on either side of it.Closing the Gap, With an Honest Look at Your Options
A missing tooth changes more than your smile. The teeth around it start to drift, and chewing shifts to the other side of your mouth. A bridge closes the gap by anchoring a replacement tooth to the healthy teeth on either side of it. It is fixed in place, tooth-colored, and it blends in with the teeth around it.
How a dental bridge works
The teeth on either side of the gap are shaped for crowns. Those two crowns are joined to a replacement tooth in the middle, and the whole piece is cemented in as one unit. It stays put. You do not take it out at night, and once it settles in, most people stop thinking about it.
Bridge or implant, and the trade-off between them
Here is the plain version. A bridge relies on the teeth on either side to hold it up, which means those teeth get reshaped. An implant stands on its own and leaves the neighbors alone, but it takes longer and involves surgery. Neither one is the right answer for everyone. We lay out both, and the choice is yours to make.
We work to save your natural tooth first
Before we talk about replacing a tooth, we look hard at whether it can be kept. A tooth that can be repaired or treated is almost always worth keeping, and we will tell you when that is the case, even when it means less treatment for us to do. A bridge is for the gap that is already there.
Dental Bridges in Davie, FL
- Replaces one or more missing teeth
- Anchors to the healthy teeth on either side of the gap
- Tooth-colored, so it blends with the teeth around it
- A plain-language comparison with implants, then your choice
What patients ask us
Which is better for me, a bridge or an implant?
It depends on the teeth beside the gap, your bone, your health, and how much time you want the process to take. If the neighboring teeth already need crowns, a bridge can make good sense. If they are untouched and healthy, an implant leaves them that way. We will walk you through both in plain language.
How many visits does a bridge take?
More than one. At the first visit we shape the supporting teeth and record how your bite fits together, and you leave with something in place while the bridge is made. At the next visit we try the bridge in, check how it meets the teeth above it, adjust the fit, and cement it. We will give you the timeline for your own case before you commit to anything.
Will a bridge look like the rest of my teeth?
It is made in tooth-colored material and matched to the shade of the teeth around it, so it blends rather than stands out. We check it against your other teeth before it is cemented. If the shade or the shape is not right, that is the moment to change it.
How much does a dental bridge cost in Davie, FL?
A dental bridge is priced by how many teeth it spans and what the supporting teeth need first, so the figure comes after we look. Most plans contribute. Patients from Cooper City and around Davie often ask us to price a bridge and an implant side by side, and we are happy to, because they should be compared.
How long does a dental bridge last?
A bridge commonly serves ten to fifteen years, sometimes longer, and what decides it is how well you can clean underneath. Bridges and crowns do not last forever and do need replacing in time. We show you the flossing technique at the fit appointment, because that one habit is what buys the extra years.
What happens if I leave a missing tooth alone?
When a gap is left alone, the teeth beside it drift and tip into the space and the tooth above or below drops down to meet nothing. The bone in the gap shrinks as well. None of it hurts while it happens, which is why it is worth deciding early rather than after your options have narrowed.
Frequently asked questions
How do I clean under a bridge?
You clean under it rather than between the teeth, using a floss threader or a small brush that slides beneath the replacement tooth. We will show you exactly how at your visit, and we check the area at every cleaning.
Can a bridge replace more than one missing tooth?
Sometimes, depending on how many teeth are missing and how strong the teeth on either side are. A longer span asks more of the supporting teeth. We will tell you honestly if your gap would be better handled another way.
Does preparing the neighboring teeth change them permanently?
Yes. Those teeth are reshaped to hold crowns, and that change does not reverse. It is the main trade-off of a bridge, which is why we say it out loud before you decide. If those teeth already need crowns, it matters less.
What happens if I leave the gap alone?
Teeth tend to drift toward an empty space over time, and the tooth above or below it can move too. That can change how your bite comes together. Leaving a gap is your call, and we will tell you what we see at your checkups either way.
Is a bridge removable?
No. A bridge is cemented in place and stays there. You brush and clean around it the way you do your own teeth. If you want something you can take out, a partial denture is the option to talk about instead.
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