

Tooth loss affects millions of people across the country. Fortunately, losing a tooth doesn’t mean that you need to go the rest of your life without it. At Spillman Family Dental, we offer high-quality dental bridges in Rockwall to fill in those gaps that have been left by one or more missing teeth in a row. If you have gaps that leave you unhappy with your smile, just give us a call. We’d be happy to share more information or schedule you for a consultation for an affordable solution for missing teeth!
A dental bridge is a type of restoration that’s used to replace consecutive missing teeth. This could be anywhere from one tooth to four teeth in a row. A bridge is composed of two crowns and a number of replacement teeth called “pontics.” The crowns are anchored on the adjacent teeth or implants (depending on the type of dental bridge you get). Bridges are made from a wide variety of materials, but porcelain is usually the best choice for a strong, natural-looking result.
If you are deemed a good candidate for a dental bridge, you will end up with one of two types: a traditional bridge or an implant bridge. Here is what each one entails:
If you still have healthy teeth on each side of your missing tooth that needs to be replaced, a traditional bridge is a good option. The teeth that support the crowns are known as the “abutment teeth.” They need to be altered slightly for the bridge to fit. This type of restoration can be placed in just a few visits, and it is typically more affordable their implant alternative.
Dental implant bridges can be used when there are three or more missing teeth in a row. Instead of being placed over abutment teeth, the crowns are placed on titanium implants. Dental implants are surgically placed in the jawbone where they fuse to the bone in a process called “osseointegration.” Ultimately, the implants last longer than traditional bridges on average, and they help to prevent bone loss in the future as a result of missing teeth.
Dental bridges are simple and a cost-effective option for replacing your missing teeth. In addition to providing additional strength and stability for chewing and speaking, they help to maintain the shape of your face. They also help to keep your remaining teeth from shifting around and causing misalignment issues in the future.