Are you missing one or multiple consecutive teeth?
At Dr. Drew Shulman’s dental office in Philadelphia, we know how important your smile is to your confidence and daily life. That’s why Dr. Shulman offers dental bridges to restore both the look and function of your smile after tooth loss. He takes the time to work with each patient personally, creating natural-looking, comfortable solutions tailored to your needs.
Replacing missing teeth is more than just a cosmetic choice, it’s essential for your oral health. Gaps in your smile can cause surrounding teeth to shift, leading to crowding and making it harder to clean your teeth properly. This increases the risk of tooth decay and gum issues. Missing teeth can also result in bone loss, trouble chewing, changes in speech, bite problems, and even facial sagging over time.
Dental bridges provide a reliable way to fill those gaps. They anchor to your natural teeth, often with crowns to ensure a stable fit. For a more permanent and long-lasting solution, Dr. Shulman also offers bridges supported by dental implants. This option not only restores your smile but also helps maintain the strength of your jawbone and overall oral health.
What Are The Benefits of Dental Bridges?
Dental bridges offer several benefits to patients that are replacing missing teeth. Dental bridges:
- Make it easier to bite and chew
- Evenly distribute your bite
- Prevent bone loss when secured by implants
- Maintain your facial structure
- Look and feel natural
To replace your missing teeth with a permanent bridge, Dr. Shulman will use dental implants. The implants securely and comfortably hold the bridge in place so it never falls out. The first stage of treatment will be the surgical implantation of the post, which will serve as a new tooth root. You will need a couple of months to heal after the procedure, then we can permanently place the bridge.
Dental Bridge FAQs
Am I a good candidate for an implant-supported dental bridge?
Most patients with missing and severely damaged teeth are candidates for dental implant-supported bridges. Your dentist will assess your oral health to decide if you have enough healthy bone and gum tissue needed for this procedure. If you don’t qualify just yet, there are treatments available to augment bone loss and create a stable base for an implant-supported bridge.
How do you care for a dental bridge?
You should remove and clean a removable dental bridge twice a day. They will require special care and you shouldn’t wear them while you sleep. On the other hand, you can maintain implant-secured bridges as if they are your natural teeth. You will not need special products to maintain an implant-secured bridge.
Does getting a dental bridge placed hurt?
No, the process for getting a dental bridge placed does not cause pain. In fact, it will alleviate pain if you have already been wearing old bridges. Your mouth changes over time, so should your dental bridge to prevent pain from ill-fitting restorations.
Can I eat normally with a dental bridge?
You should avoid eating chewy or hard foods right after getting your bridge to give your mouth time to adjust. Bridges will function just like natural teeth, so you should be able to resume your regular diet once you adjust to the new feeling.
Should you sleep with a dental bridge in?
You should remove your bridge at night to protect it and your mouth. This gives your mouth, gums and jaw a break from wearing the bridge all day. Bridges may get plaque and bacteria caught around them. Removing your bridge at night will also help you thoroughly clean the area and bridge.
Other Tooth Replacement Options
Tooth replacement is more efficient, more comfortable and natural looking than ever before. Especially with the advancements in dental technology, technique, and materials. Dr. Shulman offers other treatment options for missing teeth if bridges aren’t for you. He can also personalize your treatment plan so you receive the best results.
While each option has its benefits, dental implants can permanently secure any option to your mouth. Your alternative options include:
- Dentures: Dentures have long been the go-to for missing teeth. Dentures are for patients who are missing all their teeth on the upper or bottom jaw. Modern dentures at our office look much more natural and fit much better. Dr. Shulman can even use implants to secure the dentures so they never slip and fall out.
- Dental Implant: Dental implants are tiny titanium posts that Dr. Shulman can surgically place into your jaw. Once healed, dental implants fuse with your natural bone making a stable foundation for any dental restoration. An implanted crown can replace one tooth, or you can use two or more implants to replace a few teeth.
Schedule a Dental Exam Today
Are you self-conscious about your missing teeth? Restore your oral health and the appearance of your smile today with a custom dental bridge. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Shulman at his Northeast Philadelphia dentist office, call (215) 372-1142.