Dental Bridges Specialist

Northwest Dental and Denture

General Dentists located in Everett, WA & Bellingham, WA

More than 120 million people in the United States are missing at least one tooth, and many of them have a dental bridge. If you’re missing a tooth, and you are interested in learning about options such as dental bridges, book an appointment online or call one of the Washington locations of Northwest Dental in Bellingham, Burlington, Arlington, Everett, or Oak Harbor.

Dental Bridges Q & A

What is a dental bridge?

A dental bridge quite literally bridges the gap left by a missing tooth. A bridge can have one or more false teeth, which are called pontics.

Usually, crowns are placed on the teeth on each side of the gap that the bridge will fill, and the crowned teeth serve as anchors. The teeth with the crowns are called abutment teeth and they provide support for the bridge.

Why are bridges recommended?

Your Northwest Dental dentist may recommend a bridge for several reasons, including:

Cosmetic reasons
To make it easier to chew
To restore the natural shape of your face
So that you can speak clearly
To keep the remaining natural teeth in the correct position

Additionally, a bridge may keep the force of your bite evenly distributed and prevent damage to your other teeth.

Are there different kinds of dental bridges?

There are two types of dental bridges: traditional and implant-supported.

Traditional dental bridges

Traditional bridges are the most common type and are made up of two crowns and the bridge. One of the drawbacks of a traditional bridge is that the two abutment teeth must be crowned, which is a process that damages the enamel. On the positive side, traditional bridges are quite strong.

Implant-supported dental bridges

Instead of securing pontics with crowns or framework, implant-supported bridges are supported by dental implants. Implant-supported bridges are strong and secure, but unlike other types of bridges, they require surgery to put in the implants.

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