Dental Bridges Park Ridge

Have you been told you need to have one or more teeth extracted? Are you already missing several or even most of your teeth in the upper or bottom row? Looking for a restorative treatment option to replace your missing teeth and restore your smile? We are proud to offer dental bridges in Park Ridge for our patients interested in replacing their missing teeth to restore the function and appearance of their smile.

Wondering if a dental bridge near you might be the right option for you? Feel free to schedule a consultation with our Park Ridge dentist, Dr. Mark Kuchta. He’ll evaluate your situation and talk with you to determine if you are a candidate for a dental bridge.

When a patient is missing even one tooth, it begins to change their mouth. Demineralization and bone loss are common, impacting the rest of the smile by causing loose teeth, tooth shifting, teeth misalignment, and even tooth loss. A dental bridge can ensure teeth stay in place and that these complications are avoided.

In addition, dental bridges restore your mouth to full function. You’ll be able to bite and chew normally. You’ll speak clearly. While removable partial dentures can reverse some of the effects of tooth loss, they don’t give you the level of function that you get from bridges.

Dental bridges are restorative dental appliances used to close a gap created when patients lose one, several, or even most of their teeth. Sometimes called “fixed partial dentures,” dental bridges look, feel, and function much like natural teeth. Dr. Kuchta will help you design a dental bridge that blends with your natural smile, making the treatment virtually unnoticeable. Dental bridges are secured in the mouth, supported by dental crowns or dental implants, depending on various factors we’ll discuss in a little while. Our dentist will discuss your options during your consultation and help you select the perfect dental bridge for your smile.

Unlike removable dentures, these are secure in your mouth. Along with improving the appearance of your smile, dental bridges can improve your ability to bite, chew, eat, and speak properly. Dental bridges require no dietary restrictions, making them a more appealing option than partial or full removable dentures.

Traditional dental bridges are replacement teeth (pontics) supported by your natural teeth. Most often, the support comes from one or more dental crowns over natural teeth. These natural teeth should be generally healthy and capable of providing the necessary support, but it’s not bad if they have some level of decay, wear, or other damage–we’re putting crowns over them, after all. Some bridges, sometimes called “Maryland bridges” are supported not by crowns, but by “wings” that bond to the back of your teeth.

In the past, traditional dental bridges were made in many configurations. You might have, for example, one supporting tooth crown, then two pontics, then two supporting crowns, then three pontics, then two supporting crowns. You might even have one tooth supporting a pontic, a situation called a cantilever bridge.

When we didn’t have other options for supporting replacement teeth, these bridge designs made some sense, even though they were prone to breaking and may lead to the loss of supporting teeth. With the spread of dental implants, these other bridge designs have become less popular. Now the only common configuration of traditional bridges is the use of one pontic supported by dental crowns over teeth on either side.

Today, we can use dental implants rather than natural teeth to support dental bridges. Dental implants are artificial tooth roots, and they can support at least as much force as natural teeth. This lets us design dental bridges wherever you need them. You can also get multiple dental bridges–a three-unit bridge on one side of your mouth and a four-unit bridge on the other side, for example.

A consultation with Dr. Kuchta is the best way to know what type of bridge is best for you. However, here are some factors to consider that will influence the decision.

How many teeth are you replacing? If you’re only replacing one tooth, either a dental implant or a traditional bridge is a good choice. If you’re replacing more than one tooth together, implant-supported bridges are better.

How are the prospective supporting teeth? A traditional bridge will need natural teeth to support it. If your neighboring teeth aren’t up for the task, choose a dental implant. However, if those teeth are healthy but might benefit from crowns, maybe a traditional bridge is best.

Are you okay with surgery? Placing dental implants requires surgery, so if you’re not happy with that, you will want a traditional bridge or other tooth replacement, such as a removable denture.