Dental Bridges in Indianapolis, IN

Each of your teeth is important to your overall oral health and function. If you are missing one or more teeth, it can affect your ability to speak and eat properly and compromise the alignment of your teeth. If you have lost one or more teeth, it is essential to replace them. Dental Bridges are a budget-friendly, attractive way to restore missing teeth.

A dental bridge replaces missing teeth by attaching artificial teeth to the natural teeth on either side of the gap. A bridge may be fixed permanently in place or removable.

Why is Getting a Dental Bridge Important?

Dental health is the most important reason for a bridge. Teeth were designed to complement each other. Unusual stresses are placed on the gums and other oral tissues when teeth are missing, causing several potentially harmful disorders.

The increased risk of gum disease is one of the worst side effects of missing teeth and can be minimized with a bridge.

Missing teeth can cause speech disorders as they are used to make many of the sounds we use to speak clearly.

Types of Dental Bridges

• Traditional Bridge – The abutment teeth on either side of the gap where teeth are missing are covered with crowns that then support the replacement teeth between them.
• Cantilever Bridge –

Similar to a traditional bridge, but it’s anchored by a crown on only one adjacent tooth. It’s usually used when natural, supporting teeth exist on just one side of the gap.

• Maryland (Resin-Bonded) Bridge – If your front teeth are missing, it can be difficult to restore them by placing crowns on adjacent teeth. To provide more stability and durability, a Maryland Bridge uses a metal or porcelain frame bonded to the backs of the adjacent teeth. This conservative approach means less alteration of surrounding teeth and greater durability.
• Implant-Supported Bridge – This is often called a fixed or permanent bridge. Rather than being supported by crowns over natural teeth, the bridge is held in place by dental implants in the jawbone. For larger gaps and extreme durability, implant-supported bridges are an excellent choice.

Our Procedure

Getting a dental bridge requires at least two visits to our office to ensure a truly customized bridge that matches your remaining natural teeth and fits comfortably.

First Visit

1. Tooth Preparation: We prepare the surrounding teeth to accept and support the crowns used to hold the restorations in place. This may include removing some of the enamel and dentin, reshaping, or filing the teeth to ensure a proper fit.
2. Impression: A digital impression is taken of your teeth to be used as the basis for creating your custom bridge. The impression is sent to a dental lab, where your bridge will be fabricated.
3. Temporary Bridge:  You will leave the first appointment with a temporary bridge to protect the prepared teeth and allow you to eat and smile while the permanent bridge is being made.

 Second Visit

1. Bridge Fitting: When your custom bridge returns to our office, we remove the temporary bridge and check the fit of the custom one. We may need to shave some areas to make the fit more comfortable or ensure a secure fit.
2. Completion: When the fit is properly adjusted, we place the bridge and cement the supporting crowns (if applicable) into place.

If your bridge becomes uncomfortable or loose at any time, please get in touch with our office at Indianapolis Phone Number 317-869-0000 to schedule an adjustment. We can easily adjust your dental bridge in our Indianapolis, IN office.

Aftercare

Taking care of your bridge is not complicated. A strict schedule of twice-daily brushing and flossing will keep the bridge and surrounding teeth clean. Because your remaining natural teeth support your bridge, it is essential to keep them strong and healthy.

If you are missing one or more teeth and believe a dental bridge is the solution, please get in contact with Louly Dental at Indianapolis Phone Number 317-869-0000 to learn more.