Nearly 70 percent of Americans over the age of 35 have lost teeth to decay, gum disease, or an accident. The gap where the tooth was can lead to a shift in the surrounding teeth, difficulty eating or speaking, and reduced self confidence. Restoring the tooth can eliminate these issues, and one of the more common ways to restore missing teeth is to use dental bridges. Bridges were once made of porcelain with a sturdy metal core to withstand strong bite forces, but today people with missing teeth can choose porcelain bridges for a more natural look.

Porcelain-and-metal dental bridges often have some of the metal show through in the form of a gray line, but porcelain bridges have a beautiful, natural translucency that makes them difficult to distinguish from real teeth. Porcelain bridges are strong, thanks to powerful adhesives and durable porcelain material. There is no risk of dark lines along the gums with a porcelain bridge, and the bridge can be placed in a higher, more natural position, making it healthier for your whole mouth.

Placing a bridge may take between two and three appointments with our Los Angeles dentist. The first appointment usually involves a thorough cleaning and preparation of your teeth. The teeth on either side of the missing tooth, or abutment teeth, will be prepared for crowns. If you are receiving a Maryland Bridge, they may require less preparation to support the wings of the bridge.

Porcelain Bridges

Once your teeth have been prepared, our dentist will take impressions from which the crown and pontic, or replacement tooth, will be made. In the meantime, you will be fitted with temporary bridges to help you feel more comfortable with wearing dental bridges and to protect your prepared teeth.

At your second visit, our dentist will remove your temporary bridges and adjust and place your new dental bridges. In order to ensure the fit and bite are accurate, our dentist may temporarily cement your new dental bridges for a few weeks. If the bite is correct and the porcelain bridges fit comfortably, our Los Angeles cosmetic dentist will permanently cement your bridges, and you will have a beautiful, natural-looking new smile.