Dental Bridges

Fill the Gaps in Your Smile with a Dental Bridge

If you are missing one or more consecutive teeth, a dental bridge can fill the gap for a more beautiful and functional smile. At Dowell Dental Group, Dr. Stephen C. Dowell, provides both traditional and implant-supported bridges, allowing us to tailor treatment to suit your unique needs. We use state-of-the-art technology to precisely plan your treatment and design natural-looking bridges which blend seamlessly into your smile. With five locations in Minerva and Carrollton, OH, our team is dedicated to improving and maintaining your oral health.

A Closer Look at Dental Bridges

At our office, we offer two main types of bridges. Conventional bridges consist of one or more artificial teeth anchored by dental crowns. The crowns fit over the teeth on either side of the gap in your smile to provide support for your bridge. Implant-supported bridges, in contrast, attach to small titanium posts embedded in the jawbone. These posts are known as dental implants and act as artificial tooth roots for the prosthetic teeth.         

Is a Dental Bridge Right for Me?

We typically recommend a dental bridge for patients missing one or more teeth in a row. Patients interested in a traditional bridge must have healthy teeth on either side of the gap in their smile, as these teeth act as support for the bridge. If you are considering an implant-supported bridge, you must have enough healthy bone tissue in your jaw to support the implant posts.

Our team at Dowell Dental Group can improve the health and aesthetics of your smile with a custom dental bridge.

Substantial tooth decay or unchecked periodontal disease can affect the success of your restoration as well. Our team can help improve your oral health before placing your dental bridge.

Receiving Your Bridge

The process of restoring your smile with a dental bridge typically requires at least two visits to our office. Your treatment experience will depend on the type of bridge you receive and the current state of your oral health.

Traditional Bridges

During your first visit, your doctor will prepare your smile for placement by treating any health concerns. Then, he will remove a layer of enamel from the teeth on either side of the gap in your smile. This process ensures the dental crowns fit comfortably without appearing bulky or altering your bite.

We will then take impressions of your smile and send the information to our trusted dental lab. Using the impressions, the technicians will craft a customized dental bridge. Once the bridge is ready, your dentist can bond the restoration to your teeth for a fully restored smile.

Implant-Supported Bridges

In order to receive an implant-supported bridge, you must first undergo implant placement. Our doctors can perform the procedure in our office for your convenience. Typically, patients require three to six months to heal after implant surgery. During this time, the posts fuse with the surrounding bone tissue to create a stable base for your bridge.

When your jaw has healed, you can return to our office and we can design a custom bridge to attach to your implants. You may require an additional procedure to place abutments, the devices which connect the posts to your restoration. Our team can complete every stage of treatment in our office.

Fully Restore Your Smile

Missing teeth not only detract from the appearance of your smile, but can also cause a range of oral health issues, including shifting teeth and jawbone deterioration. Our team at Dowell Dental Group can improve the health and aesthetics of your smile with a custom dental bridge. For more information, contact our office online or call one of our convenient locations to speak to a member of our team today.