Dental Bridges

Why Is It Important to Replace Missing Teeth?

Missing teeth can make daily tasks like eating and speaking more difficult, not to mention affecting your confidence. If you’re searching for a dependable way to restore the full function and beauty of your smile, our custom dental bridges in Monterey could be the solution you need.

After losing a tooth or getting a tooth extracted, it is crucial that you get a replacement to avoid more severe issues and complications that can impact your overall dental health. When a tooth goes missing, the neighboring teeth lose critical support and start to shift. 

Missing teeth also create an unbalanced bite, and uneven forces can cause excessive wear and strain on your remaining teeth. All of these issues together increase the likelihood that you’ll lose more teeth in the future.

Timely tooth replacements are an investment that can restore your ability to eat comfortably and smile confidently as well as protect the rest of your smile.

What Are Dental Bridges?

A dental bridge is an effective option to replace one or more missing teeth while restoring stability and support among your remaining teeth. The bridge is a false tooth (called a pontic) fused to dental crowns on either side. This single restoration is crafted to look like individual teeth and blend seamlessly with your smile.

We can anchor dental bridges to stable natural teeth on either side of a gap or attach it to dental implants to replace several teeth in a row. Our team has the expertise and experience to rebuild your complete smile with strong, durable, natural-looking dental bridges in Monterey so you can get back to living life to the fullest!

What Are the Benefits of Dental Bridges?

• Make it easier to chew and speak
• Prevent surrounding teeth from shifting out of alignment
• Restore a full, natural-looking smile
• Support your bite to protect your jaw joints and remaining teeth
• Reduce wear and tear on the rest of your teeth
• Maintain the shape of your face
• Boost your self-esteem and allow you to share your smile with pride

Types of Dental Bridges

At Monterey Peninsula Dental Group, we offer several types of dental bridges in Monterey to fit your unique needs. Your tooth replacement options may include:

• Traditional Dental Bridges: These rely on crowns placed on the teeth adjacent to the gap for support. They are strong, reliable, and a popular choice.
• Cantilever Bridges: Used when there’s only one supporting tooth next to the gap, or if you need to replace two teeth but there is only space for a single dental implant. This option is less common and only suitable for specific cases.
• Implant-Supported Bridges: Anchored to dental implants, these bridges offer maximum strength and durability, making them ideal for replacing multiple teeth in a row.

We’ll guide you in selecting the best type of bridge for your lifestyle, anatomy, and budget.

Dental Bridges vs Dental Implants and Dentures

If you’re exploring tooth replacement solutions, here’s how dental bridges compare to other options.

• • Longevity: Traditional dental bridges typically last five to fifteen years before they need to be replaced. A dental implant bridge can last decades with proper care. Partial dentures can last about as long as a traditional bridge, but may need frequent adjustments.

• Durability: Dental bridges are extremely durable, especially with modern dental materials. However, a traditional bridge is considered less durable than dental implants. Both options are far more durable than dentures.

• Functionality: Dental bridges restore your ability to eat and chew normally, although you may need to avoid biting extremely hard foods with your bridge. Both traditional and dental implant bridges are far more functional than dentures, which restore some chewing ability but will limit your food choices.

• Affordability: A traditional bridge is typically more affordable up front than a dental implant. However, it will need to be replaced more often, so costs more over the long run. While partial dentures are considered the most cost-effective option, they can cause wear and tear on your other teeth and increase your need for further treatments.

• Impact on Remaining Teeth: To attach a dental bridge to natural teeth, we’ll need to adjust them to accommodate the crowns. This involves shaving away some enamel to make space for the crowns. While the process is safe, it can make the supporting teeth more susceptible to tooth decay or other problems. A dental implant does not require working on your natural teeth and preserves your natural enamel. Depending on the design, a partial denture can cause significant wear to the teeth where the prosthesis rests and compromise their health over time.

At Monterey Peninsula Dental Group, we’re committed to helping you make fully informed decisions about your dental care. When it comes to replacing missing teeth, we’ll help you explore the pros and cons of all your options so you can feel confident getting the care you need.

Restore Your Full Smile with Dental Bridges in Monterey

A full set of strong, functional teeth is essential to your comfort and quality of life. We’re proud to provide a full range of tooth replacement options to ensure you can enjoy all your favorite foods and a lifetime of confident smiles. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about rebuilding your smile with dental bridges in Monterey. We look forward to helping you smile with confidence!