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A missing tooth can affect much more than the appearance of your smile. It may change how you chew, make certain words harder to pronounce, and allow neighboring teeth to shift toward the open space. A custom dental bridge can replace one or more missing teeth with a restoration designed to look natural and function comfortably.
South Florida Dental Care provides personalized restorative dentistry for patients in Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Hallandale Beach, Aventura, and surrounding South Florida communities. Our team evaluates your teeth, gums, bite, and long-term goals before recommending a dental bridge or another tooth-replacement option.
To find out whether a dental bridge is right for you, call South Florida Dental Care at (954) 966-6410 or request a consultation.
A dental bridge is a fixed restoration used to replace one or more missing teeth. The replacement tooth, known as a pontic, fills the open space and is supported by crowns placed over neighboring teeth or by dental implants.
Unlike a removable partial denture, a fixed bridge stays in your mouth. It can only be removed by a dentist. The bridge is carefully designed to complement the shape, shade, and proportions of the surrounding teeth while restoring a more complete biting surface.
According to the American Dental Association’s MouthHealthy resource, bridges can help restore the appearance and function of a smile after tooth loss. Their long-term success depends in part on maintaining a healthy foundation around the restoration.
Replacing a missing tooth is not only a cosmetic decision. Depending on its location and the condition of your mouth, a properly designed bridge may help:
Every case is different. Before recommending treatment, our dentists assess why the tooth was lost, the health of the surrounding teeth and gums, available bone support, bite forces, and the number and location of teeth that need to be replaced.
There is no single bridge design that is appropriate for every patient. Your dentist will recommend an option based on the location of the gap, the condition of the supporting teeth, your bite, and your treatment preferences.
A traditional bridge is commonly used when healthy teeth are present on both sides of the gap. These neighboring teeth are reshaped and covered with dental crowns, which support the replacement tooth between them.
Because the supporting teeth must be prepared, their existing condition matters. Teeth that already need crowns because of large fillings, fractures, or significant wear may be well suited to this approach. Learn more about the custom dental crowns provided at South Florida Dental Care.
A cantilever bridge is supported from only one side of the missing tooth. This design may be considered in selected areas where only one suitable supporting tooth is available. Because it places additional force on the supporting tooth, it is not appropriate for every location or bite.
A Maryland bridge generally uses thin wings bonded to the backs of neighboring teeth. It requires less alteration to those teeth than a traditional bridge and is most often considered to replace certain front teeth.
The strength and appearance of a resin-bonded bridge depend on the location, available enamel, bite relationship, and design. Your dentist will determine whether this more conservative option can provide sufficient support.
An implant-supported bridge is secured by dental implants rather than crowns placed on natural teeth. It may be appropriate when several neighboring teeth are missing or when using the adjacent natural teeth for support is not advisable.
Implant treatment requires adequate bone and healthy gum tissue and generally involves a longer treatment process. Visit our dental implants page to learn more about implant-based tooth replacement.
Dental bridges and dental implants can both replace missing teeth, but they do so differently. The better choice depends on your oral health, medical history, neighboring teeth, available bone, timeline, and personal priorities.
A consultation is the best way to accurately compare these options. We can also discuss full or partial dentures when several teeth are missing, or a removable solution would better fit your needs.
You may be a candidate for a bridge if you have one or more missing teeth and sufficient support for the proposed restoration. For a tooth-supported bridge, the neighboring teeth must be healthy enough to serve as reliable anchors. Your gums must also be healthy enough to support long-term maintenance around the bridge.
Factors considered during your evaluation may include:
If you have active tooth decay or gum disease, those conditions normally need to be addressed before the final bridge is placed. Our emphasis on periodontal health helps protect both the supporting teeth and the restoration.
The exact process depends on the type of bridge and whether natural teeth or implants will provide support.
Your dentist will examine the area around the missing tooth, the surrounding teeth, gums, and bite. Dental X-rays, photographs, impressions, or digital records may be used to evaluate the available support and plan the restoration.
For a traditional bridge, the teeth on either side of the gap are prepared to receive crowns. Impressions or digital records are then used to create a bridge customized for your mouth. A temporary bridge may be placed while the final restoration is being made.
When the custom bridge is ready, your dentist checks its fit, bite, shape, and color. Adjustments may be made to improve comfort and ensure that the restoration works properly with the opposing teeth.
Once the bridge meets the clinical and aesthetic requirements, it is securely cemented into place. Your dentist will explain how to clean underneath it and what to expect as your mouth adjusts.
An implant-supported bridge follows a different timeline because the dental implants must be placed and allowed to integrate with the surrounding bone before the final restoration is attached. Treatment times vary according to the bridge design, oral health, laboratory process, and whether preliminary care is required.
A bridge should do more than occupy an empty space. Its shape must support comfortable chewing, work with your bite, allow for proper cleaning, and blend with the rest of your smile.
Dr. Leonardo Frydman is a prosthodontist with advanced training in restoring and replacing teeth. Prosthodontists complete additional specialty education focused on treatments such as crowns, bridges, dentures, implants, and complex restorative care. This training can be especially valuable when a patient has multiple missing or damaged teeth, an existing bridge that needs replacement, or a more complicated bite.
Learn more about what a prosthodontist does and meet the dentists at South Florida Dental Care.
A bridge cannot develop a cavity, but the natural teeth supporting it still can. Plaque and food may also collect along the gumline or beneath the replacement tooth. Consistent home care and professional dental visits are essential to protecting the bridge’s foundation.
To care for your bridge:
The lifespan of a dental bridge varies. Its longevity can be affected by oral hygiene, gum health, decay, bite forces, grinding, the condition of the supporting teeth, and regular professional care.
Local anesthetic is normally used when teeth are prepared for a traditional bridge. You may experience temporary sensitivity or mild soreness after treatment, but significant or persistent pain should be reported to your dentist.
A bridge can replace one or more neighboring teeth, but the appropriate number depends on the bridge’s location, available support, bite forces, and the health of the supporting teeth or implants. Longer spaces may require an implant-supported restoration or another treatment approach.
Yes. Modern restorative materials can be shaped and color-matched to blend closely with surrounding teeth. The final appearance depends on the bridge’s location, available space, gum contours, material selection, and the condition of the adjacent teeth.
A properly designed bridge is intended to restore useful biting and chewing function. You may need to eat softer foods while adjusting to a new restoration. Your dentist may also recommend avoiding especially hard or sticky foods that could place unnecessary stress on the bridge.
Often, the supporting teeth and gums must be evaluated first. A loose bridge may be related to cement failure, decay, a damaged supporting tooth, bite forces, or another underlying issue. Depending on the findings, the bridge may be recemented, repaired, or replaced with a new restoration.
A fixed bridge stays in place and may feel more similar to natural teeth, while a partial denture can be removed for cleaning and may replace multiple teeth in different areas. The right option depends on the number and location of missing teeth, available support, oral health, cost, and personal preference.
If missing teeth are affecting your smile, comfort, or ability to chew, South Florida Dental Care can help you understand your replacement options. We will evaluate the entire area and explain whether a traditional bridge, an implant-supported bridge, a dental implant, or a removable restoration is likely to provide the best result for your needs.
Our Hollywood dental office welcomes patients from Pembroke Pines, Hallandale Beach, Aventura, and surrounding South Florida communities. You can also explore our complete range of dental care services.
Call (954) 966-6410 or contact South Florida Dental Care to schedule your consultation.
