Dental Bridges – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
A Lifelike Solution for Rebuilding Smiles
Tooth loss can significantly detract from your daily quality of life in a few different ways. For example, you might feel self-conscious about the changes to your appearance, or struggle to eat and speak normally.
Our team in Ponte Vedra Beach is happy to provide a lifelike solution for rebuilding smiles with a customized dental bridge. Continue reading to learn more about this popular service and who it can benefit to help determine if one of these resilient restorations is right for you!
Why Choose Palm Leaf Dental for Dental Bridges?
- Durable, Tooth-Colored Materials
- Beautiful Results that Match Your Smile
- Accepts Dental Insurance & Flexible Financing
What Is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is an oral appliance that contains the necessary number of replacement teeth with a dental crown on each end. They are typically made from resilient ceramic, such as porcelain, that can be made to resemble the size, shape, and shade of your natural enamel for beautiful results.
These restorations are cemented over healthy abutment teeth or dental implants on either side of the gap in your grin, which can be an ideal way to replace anywhere from one to four consecutively missing teeth. They often last 5 to 15+ years when cared for correctly, making them a versatile and long-lasting solution for tooth loss.
Types of Dental Bridges
Anyone missing one or several teeth in a row can potentially benefit from getting a dental bridge, but that doesn’t mean this option is the best way to meet everyone’s unique needs. You’ll need to consult one of our providers before proceeding so they can examine your dental condition and devise a customized treatment plan based on their findings.
There are two types of dental bridges, so once we determine this is the right service for you, we can recommend one of the following options:
Traditional Dental Bridge
Traditional dental bridges include the necessary number of pontics, or artificial teeth, between dental crowns that are attached to healthy teeth on each side of the space in your smile. That means it may not be a feasible solution for those who have developed more severe dental damage or decay.
Implant Bridge
This service involves surgically placing a dental implant post on each end of the gap in your grin to support your dental bridge. It can take several months to recover from the procedure, as your jaw must produce enough new bone to fuse with the posts in a process called osseointegration, making them a more permanent part of your mouth. Then, our team can attach your newly crafted teeth to rebuild your smile.
The Benefits of Getting a Dental Bridge
Your new, one-of-a-kind dental bridge provides several advantages that can improve your daily quality of life, including:
- Better bite force. Your restoration returns a portion of your original chewing power so you can enjoy more of your favorite foods.
- Enhanced enunciation. Missing teeth can cause changes in your speech patterns, such as a lisp or slur, which can often be overcome with a prosthetic in place.
- Improved confidence. The materials are customized to look and feel as realistic as possible, increasing your self-esteem.
- Durable results. They often last a decade or longer when cared for correctly.
- Versatile treatment. Our team can provide a bridge to restore one or several missing teeth to meet your unique needs.
Dental Bridges FAQs
How Many Teeth Can a Dental Bridge Replace?
Dental bridges can replace up to four missing teeth consecutively. Any more than that, and the restoration can become unstable. So, if you are missing 5+ teeth, we will need to explore your other treatment options. The good news is that we offer several tooth-replacement solutions at our office, including dental implants.
Do Dental Bridges Look Natural?
Oftentimes, patients assume that their replacement teeth will look and feel unnatural. Thanks to advancements both in dentistry and technology, that’s not the case at all! Our team at Palm Leaf Dental will customize every aspect of your restoration, including the size, shape, and shade of the replacement teeth, to ensure that it suits your dental needs and aesthetic goals perfectly. All that to say, you don’t have to worry – your dental bridge won’t draw unwanted attention to your smile.
How Long Should a Dental Bridge Last?
Dental bridges usually last 5-15 years, which is quite a range. The key to making yours last for 10+ years is incorporating the right habits into your routine. That starts with brushing your teeth twice a day and extends to scheduling a dental cleaning every six months. Of course, it’s equally important to avoid doing anything that could compromise the strength or appearance of your restoration, like chewing on ice cubes, using tobacco products, or skipping your biannual dental visits.
What Can You Not Eat with a Dental Bridge?
Like your natural teeth, your restoration can break with enough force. Not only that, but it can get pulled out of place. For those reasons, we encourage our patients to steer clear of extremely crunchy and sticky foods, like hard pretzels, raw almonds, caramel-filled candies, and taffy. Instead, try to fill your plate with nutrient-dense foods that have a softer consistency (i.e., bananas, cooked sweet potatoes, plain yogurt). This will benefit your oral and overall health as well as reduce your risk of dental damage.
Are Dental Bridges Covered by Insurance?
Although coverage can vary between different providers, most cover a portion of the cost of dental bridges. Since our Nocatee dental team is in-network with Delta Dental, Humana, and a few others, we can assist with both understanding and utilizing your benefits. So, don’t hesitate to provide us with your membership information!
What if you don’t have dental insurance? If that’s the case, then you should explore the other financial solutions that are available at our office, like CareCredit. Their payment plans allow you to break up the total cost into smaller, more budget-friendly chunks over the course of several months. If you’d like more information, including how to sign up, get in touch with a helpful member of our team!