How Dental Bridges Work
Think of a bridge as three or more crowns fused together. The crowns on the ends, called abutments, fit over your natural teeth on either side of the gap. The middle crown—or crowns if you’re replacing multiple adjacent teeth—are called pontics, and these replace your missing teeth. The entire structure is permanently cemented in place, becoming a fixed part of your smile.
Dr. Connor or Dr. Prouty shapes the teeth on either side of your gap to receive the bridge, much like they’d prepare a tooth for a single crown. These anchor teeth require sufficient structure and strength to support the bridge in the long term. After preparation, your dentist takes impressions that a dental lab uses to craft your custom bridge, ensuring it matches your natural teeth in colour, shape, and size.
While the lab creates your permanent bridge, you’ll wear a temporary one that protects your prepared teeth and maintains aesthetics. Once your custom bridge arrives, typically within two to three weeks, you return for placement. Dr. Prouty or Dr. Connor carefully checks the fit, adjusts the bite as needed, and cements the bridge permanently.
Types of Bridges Available
Choosing the right type of bridge depends on your specific situation, how many teeth you’re missing, and the condition of your surrounding teeth. Here are the main options Dr. Connor and Dr. Prouty offer:
Traditional Bridges
- Most common type that works well when you have healthy teeth on both sides of the gap
- Provide excellent stability and can last 10-15 years or longer with proper care
- The strength of having two anchor teeth makes them suitable for replacing molars that handle significant chewing forces
Cantilever Bridges
- Attach to teeth on only one side of the gap
- Work when you have a missing tooth with only one adjacent tooth available for support
- Not ideal for areas that experience heavy chewing pressure
- Dr. Connor and Dr. Prouty evaluate whether a cantilever bridge suits your specific situation
Maryland Bridges
- Also known as resin-bonded bridges
- Use a metal or porcelain framework bonded to the back of adjacent teeth rather than covering them entirely with crowns
- Preserve more natural tooth structure but aren’t as strong as traditional bridges
- Works best for the front teeth, where chewing forces are lighter
Implant-Supported Bridges
- Use dental implants instead of natural teeth as anchors
- Ideal if you’re missing several teeth in a row and the adjacent natural teeth aren’t ideal anchor candidates
- Provide excellent stability without relying on your remaining teeth for support
Why Choose Bridges Over Other Options
Bridges offer permanence that removable partial dentures can’t match. You don’t take them out for cleaning, they don’t slip while you’re eating or speaking, and you don’t need messy adhesives. Once your bridge is in place, it functions like natural teeth—you brush and floss around it just as you would your other teeth, although you’ll use special floss threaders to clean under the pontics.
The treatment timeline for bridges in Watertown is typically shorter than that of dental implants, which require several months for the implant to integrate with the jawbone. If you need your gap filled relatively quickly, bridges provide a faster solution. They also cost less upfront than implants, making them more accessible for some patients.
Bridges prevent the shifting that occurs when teeth are missing. Your teeth naturally drift toward gaps, which can create bite problems, TMJ issues, and make future tooth replacement more complicated. A bridge maintains proper spacing and keeps your remaining teeth in place.
Candidates for Dental Bridges
You’re likely a good candidate if you’re missing one to three adjacent teeth and have healthy teeth on at least one side of the gap. Those anchor teeth require adequate structure, strong roots, and healthy gums to support the bridge in the long term. Dr. Prouty and Dr. Connor evaluate these factors during your examination.
Gum disease needs to be under control before placing a bridge. Active periodontal disease compromises the stability of anchor teeth and increases the risk of bridge failure. If you have gum disease, treatment to restore gum health is the first step, followed by bridge placement once your gums are stable.
People who grind or clench their teeth can still get bridges, but they’ll need a nightguard to protect both the bridge and their natural teeth from excessive wear. The forces from grinding can damage bridges over time, so addressing this habit protects your investment.
Caring for Your Bridge
Maintaining your bridge requires diligence but isn’t complicated. Brush twice daily, just as you normally would, paying extra attention to where the bridge meets your gums. Food particles and plaque accumulate in these areas just like they do around natural teeth, so thorough brushing prevents decay in the anchor teeth and keeps your gums healthy.
Flossing requires a slightly different technique. You’ll need floss threaders or special bridge floss to clean under the pontics where your gums are exposed. This step is crucial—skipping it allows bacteria to accumulate, which can lead to gum inflammation and bad breath. Your hygienist at any of our three Infinity Sedation Dentistry locations demonstrates proper technique and provides the necessary tools and equipment.
Regular dental checkups help your bridge last as long as possible. Dr. Connor or Dr. Prouty examines the bridge during these visits, checking for any loosening, damage, or decay that may be developing around the margins. Catching small problems early prevents bigger issues that might require bridge replacement.
Avoid using your bridge as a tool to open packages or crack nuts. While bridges are strong, excessive force or improper use can cause cracks or loosening. Treat your bridge like you would natural teeth, and it’ll serve you well for many years.
What to Expect After Placement
Your mouth needs a brief adjustment period after getting a bridge. The bridge might feel bulky initially, and your bite might seem slightly off. These sensations typically resolve within a few days as your body adapts. If discomfort persists beyond one week or your bite still feels incorrect, please contact our office for an adjustment.
Some sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures is normal in the anchor teeth for a few days after placement. This occurs because tooth preparation exposes slightly deeper layers of the tooth. The sensitivity should diminish quickly, but if it intensifies or persists, let Dr. Prouty or Dr. Connor know.
Eating feels different at first, too. Start with softer foods for the first day or two while you get accustomed to the bridge, then gradually return to your normal diet. Within a week, most people forget they have a bridge and return to their old eating habits.
Bridges in Watertown
Missing teeth can significantly impact your confidence, bite, and oral health, and these effects tend to worsen over time. Schedule a consultation at Infinity Sedation Dentistry in Watertown, Dakota Dunes, or Sioux Falls to explore whether a dental bridge is right for you. Dr. Brian Prouty and Dr. Kevin Connor will examine your teeth, discuss all your options honestly, and create a treatment plan that restores your smile and function. That gap doesn’t have to be permanent—let’s talk about filling it with a bridge that looks natural and lasts for years.