Dental Bridges – Louisville, KY

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently shared an interesting statistic: most Americans have lost an average of 12 teeth by the time they are 50. Furthermore, a whopping 178 million adults are missing at least one tooth. Fortunately, there’s a way to restore the look, health, and function of your smile if you are missing one tooth or several teeth in a row: dental bridges. If you’d like to learn more about this tooth-replacement solution, then schedule a consultation with our Louisville dental team or read on!

What is a Dental Bridge?

You may know that dental bridges are used to replace one missing tooth or several missing teeth in a row, but what exactly are they? In short, the term “dental bridge” got its name because it literally bridges the gap left by tooth loss. This is done with a custom-made prosthetic tooth (or prosthetic teeth, if you are missing more than one), which is anchored securely in place with dental crowns or dental implants.

Types of Dental Bridges 

As we mentioned above, dental bridges can be held securely in place with either dental crowns or dental implants. We offer both traditional and implant bridges at our office, and we’ll review the pros of each option in-depth so you can confidently make a decision on the best way to move forward. In the meantime, you can read on to learn more!

Traditional Dental Bridge

Traditional dental bridges are anchored in place with two lifelike, durable, and custom-made dental crowns. This might require your healthy teeth to be altered, but the end result will be natural in look and function. Plus, with proper care, your restoration can last for a decade or more!

Implant Bridge

Unlike traditional dental bridges, implant bridges are anchored in place with dental implants. These are inserted directly into your jawbone, which makes them superior when it comes to preventing bone loss. It’s also worth noting that dental implants have a high success rate and can last for 20+ years!

The Benefits of Getting a Dental Bridge

If you are currently in the process of deciding which tooth-replacement solution is best for you, you might find it helpful to learn some of the many reasons so many patients have chosen dental bridges. Here are a few:

• You can maintain your dental bridge with many of the same best practices you use to care for your natural teeth.
• This restoration is custom-made, which ensures that it looks as great as it feels.
• Filling the gap in your smile will help prevent problems like dental drift.
• With proper care, your dental bridge can last for over a decade.