Dental Bridges at Tharp, Klaus, & Kelly

601-939-4100

Restore Your Smile With Dental Bridges

At Tharp, Klaus, & Kelly Dental Clinic, our dentists believe every patient deserves the smile of their dreams. That includes replacing missing teeth, which allows for more confident smiles. A dentist examines a patient during a hygiene visit

If you’re missing one or more adjacent teeth, a dental bridge could be your opportunity to restore your natural-looking smile without the need for dentures. This form of dental restoration uses customized replacement teeth to fill the gap between your natural teeth.

Our trusted Jackson, MS dentists offer custom dental bridges, and our patients are loving their results. Read on to see if this restorative dentistry procedure may be right for you.

What is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is a false tooth, called a pontic, held in place by abutment teeth on either side of the gap. Although pontics can be made from a variety of materials, they’re typically made from porcelain, so they’ll blend seamlessly with your surrounding teeth. The dental bridge is meant to permanently restore your bite and help keep the natural shape of your face.

Why You Might Need a Dental Bridge

Missing teeth is a serious matter. In addition to affecting your confidence, your adjoining teeth might shift and become crooked or loose. Teeth are meant to work together to help you chew, speak, and smile; even one missing tooth can affect the rest of your oral health.

If you’re missing teeth in the lower jaw, it can cause your upper jaw to shift down into the missing space, causing your teeth to become crooked. This can affect your bite alignment, causing further damage in your mouth. The benefits of a dental bridge go way beyond cosmetic.

Teeth that have shifted or tipped are also much harder to clean. This can increase your risk of gum disease and tooth decay. Missing teeth can also lead to bone loss, which can cause neighboring teeth to become loose. It can even change the entire way your face looks. Therefore, if you’re missing one or more teeth, you should seriously consider dental bridges and crowns.

The Dental Bridge Process

The dental bridge process is fairly simple, and can usually be completed in two visits to our Jackson dentist. During your first visit, we’ll reshape your abutment teeth and gently remove a small portion of your tooth enamel so there’s room for the crown. Next, we’ll take impressions of your teeth. A dental lab will use the impressions to create your bridge and crowns. We will place a temporary bridge and dental crown on your tooth until the permanents are ready.

During your second visit, your dentist will remove the temporary bridge and place the permanent bridge. We’ll carefully check the fit of the dental bridge and crown, making any necessary adjustments to ensure everything fits comfortably and naturally.

Depending on the condition of your mouth and jaw bone, one or more dental implants may be used for additional support of your replacement bridge. The visible portion of your new replacements will look completely natural and are made from the same types of material as dental crowns.

Caring For Your Dental Bridges

Dental bridges will require the same care as your natural teeth for the longest-lasting results. This means keeping up with your regular oral hygiene habits like daily brushing and flossing, along with regularly scheduled checkups and cleanings at Tharp, Klaus, & Kelly. With proper care and maintenance, dental bridges can last up to 15 years or longer before needing to be replaced.