At Cherokee Smiles Dental, our team focuses on restoring healthy, confident smiles for patients who have lost one or more teeth. Missing teeth affect more than appearance — they change how you eat, speak, and care for your mouth. This page explains why timely replacement matters, how dental bridges work, the different bridge options available, and what to expect before, during, and after treatment so you can make an informed decision.
Losing a tooth initiates a series of changes in the mouth that often go unnoticed at first. When a gap is left unfilled, neighboring teeth tend to shift toward the space, which can alter your bite and create areas that are harder to clean. Over time these changes can increase the risk of decay and gum disease, and may result in uneven wear on the remaining teeth.
Beyond mechanical effects, a missing tooth can change the way the opposing tooth responds. Without normal contact, the opposing tooth may drift or over-erupt, creating further bite irregularities and potential sensitivity. These shifts can make everyday functions — like chewing certain foods — less efficient and more uncomfortable.
There are also cosmetic and psychosocial impacts. Even a single missing tooth can affect speech and the way you smile, which in turn can influence self-confidence. Addressing tooth loss early helps prevent compounding problems and preserves both function and facial support.
Modern dentistry offers multiple avenues to replace missing teeth, from removable solutions to fixed restorations. Each option has trade-offs related to durability, maintenance, and how much natural tooth structure is involved. Dental professionals weigh these factors alongside your overall oral health, lifestyle, and aesthetic goals when recommending a plan of care.
Fixed restorations, such as bridges, are often chosen for their stability and ability to restore normal chewing and speech. Bridges can be supported by natural teeth or by dental implants, and today’s materials allow for results that look and feel very natural. Removable prosthetics remain a viable choice in certain situations but require different maintenance and may behave differently during function.
Deciding on the best replacement method usually starts with a comprehensive evaluation. Your dentist will consider the condition of adjacent teeth, the quality of bone in the area, and any underlying gum disease before outlining a personalized recommendation.
A dental bridge is a fixed prosthetic that fills the space left by one or more missing teeth. It typically consists of an artificial tooth (or teeth) called pontics that are anchored in place by support structures. Depending on the type of bridge, those supports may be crowns on adjacent teeth or implants placed into the jawbone.
Traditional tooth-supported bridges rely on prepared crowns on natural teeth next to the gap. When those crowns are connected to the pontic(s), they form a single, continuous restoration that restores chewing function and prevents neighboring teeth from shifting. Bridges are designed to distribute biting forces evenly and blend with the color and shape of surrounding teeth.
Implant-supported bridges, in contrast, use dental implants as anchors. Because implants mimic the role of tooth roots, they provide strong, independent support without altering healthy adjacent teeth. Implant-supported solutions also help preserve jawbone because they transmit chewing forces to the bone, which encourages maintenance of bone volume and facial contours.
There are several common bridge designs and each serves a specific clinical scenario. A traditional fixed bridge is suitable when the teeth adjacent to the gap are healthy or can be restored and provide strong support. This option can be efficient and predictable when the supporting teeth are robust and well-aligned.
A cantilever bridge is similar to a traditional bridge but is supported on only one side. This design is used when there is a suitable adjacent tooth on just one side of the missing space and when occlusal forces are favorable. Cantilevers are carefully planned to avoid creating undue leverage on the supporting tooth.
Maryland (resin-bonded) bridges use a metal or ceramic framework bonded to the backs of adjacent teeth. They typically require less alteration of natural tooth structure, making them an option for certain front-tooth replacements where forces are lower. However, they are not always appropriate for areas with heavy chewing forces.
Implant-supported bridges are often recommended when multiple teeth are missing in succession or when preserving adjacent natural teeth is a priority. They offer superior long-term stability and help reduce bone loss in the area of the missing teeth, which can be especially important for maintaining facial structure over time.
A successful bridge begins with a careful clinical assessment. Your dentist will review your medical and dental history, examine your mouth, and take diagnostic images to evaluate bone levels and the condition of potential abutment teeth. This information helps determine which bridge type will provide the best functional and aesthetic outcome.
Healthy gums are a prerequisite for any fixed prosthetic. If periodontal disease is present, it must be treated and stabilized before a bridge is fabricated, because inflamed or mobile teeth cannot reliably support a restoration. In some cases, restorative treatment or root canal therapy on an abutment tooth may be necessary prior to bridge placement.
When implants are part of the plan, additional steps may be needed to prepare the bone. Bone grafting or ridge augmentation can rebuild deficient areas to create a stable foundation for implant placement. Your dentist will explain any preparatory procedures and the timeline involved so you know what to expect.
Open communication about goals and daily habits — such as grinding or smoking — also factors into planning. These considerations influence material choices and protective measures to help your bridge last as long as possible.
The treatment sequence varies by bridge type. For traditional tooth-supported bridges, the process typically includes preparing the abutment teeth, taking impressions or digital scans, placing a temporary restoration, and then seating the final bridge once the laboratory work is complete. Expect some short-term sensitivity after tooth preparation, which usually resolves as the mouth adjusts.
For implant-supported bridges, the process includes surgical placement of implants followed by a healing period that allows the implants to integrate with the bone. Temporary restorations may be provided during healing for appearance and basic function. Once healing is complete, the final bridge is secured to the implants for a stable, long-lasting result.
Long-term success depends on careful home care and regular dental visits. Cleanliness around the bridge—especially in the spaces beneath pontics and around abutments—is essential to prevent decay and gum disease. Your dental team will demonstrate tools and techniques, such as floss threaders or interdental brushes, to clean effectively around a bridge.
Scheduled checkups allow your dentist to monitor the fit and function of the bridge, assess surrounding tissues, and address minor adjustments as needed. With proper oral hygiene and routine professional care, bridges can provide many years of reliable service.
Whether you are considering a traditional bridge or an implant-supported solution, thoughtful planning and skilled care make all the difference. If you’d like to learn more about options for replacing missing teeth and which approach might suit your needs, please contact us for more information.
Your new bridge is customized to the exact specifications of your smile. Before cementing to the underlying teeth or affixing it to the supporting implants, the shade, occlusion, and all aspects of its fit get carefully checked. In addition to being designed to blend seamlessly with your smile, it's also made to suit your bite and withstand all manner of oral function. We take great care to make sure your new restoration looks great, fits well, and that your bite feels comfortable.
Replacing missing teeth with a dental bridge is a worthwhile investment in the look, health, and function of your smile. While many dental insurances offer coverage for a dental bridge, and some toward the cost of implants, the benefits and amounts can vary significantly from plan to plan. At the office of Cherokee Smiles Dental, we understand the financial considerations involved in care and do all we can to help patients begin treatment without any additional stress or delay. In addition to doing our best to optimize your dental benefits, we also offer several payment and financing options. Feel free to contact our office if you have any questions on the cost of care, dental insurances, financing plans, or acceptable forms of payment.
Now that your new permanent crown or bridge is in place, it's essential to maintain good oral hygiene. With proper care, your new restorations will last for years to come. Make sure to brush and floss as instructed. We'll show you how to floss under your dental bridge to keep your new smile clean and bright. Remember to make appointments for your routine checkups and professional cleanings.
The standard answer is that with routine dental visits and good home care, a bridge can last ten to fifteen years, and in many cases, much longer.
At the office of Cherokee Smiles Dental, we fabricate your bridge from the highest quality dental materials to achieve the most cosmetically pleasing and lifelike results of care. It's also customized to the exact specifications of your smile and designed for optimal aesthetics, strength, and stability. Once fabricated and cemented into place, you'll feel confident sharing your smile, speaking, and eating your favorite foods.
As your trusted partner in care, we analyze every aspect of your smile to develop a treatment plan that provides aesthetically pleasing, healthy, and long-lasting results of care.
For more information on dental bridges, or any services we provide, give us a call today.
A dental bridge is a fixed prosthetic that replaces one or more adjacent missing teeth by spanning the gap with artificial teeth called pontics. The pontics are supported either by crowns placed on natural teeth next to the space or by implants anchored in the jaw, creating a continuous restoration that restores chewing function and speech. Bridges are crafted to match the color and contour of surrounding teeth so they integrate visually and functionally with the rest of the smile.
By restoring contact between teeth, a bridge prevents neighboring teeth from drifting into the empty space and helps maintain proper bite alignment. It also redistributes biting forces across the restored segment to reduce uneven wear on remaining teeth. With proper planning and oral hygiene, a bridge can provide a durable, stable solution for tooth replacement.
The common types of bridges include traditional fixed bridges, cantilever bridges, resin-bonded (Maryland) bridges, and implant-supported bridges, each suited to specific clinical situations. Traditional bridges use crowns on both sides of the gap and are versatile for posterior or anterior use, while cantilever bridges are anchored to a tooth on only one side and are used when there is support on just one adjacent tooth. Maryland bridges use a bonded framework to conserve tooth structure and are often considered for low-stress front-tooth replacements.
Implant-supported bridges replace missing teeth without altering adjacent healthy teeth and are preferred when multiple teeth are missing or when preserving bone is a priority. The selection depends on factors such as the condition of neighboring teeth, occlusal forces, esthetic demands, and the patient’s overall oral health. Your dentist will recommend the design that balances longevity, function, and conservation of natural tooth structure.
Implant-supported bridges are anchored to dental implants that act like tooth roots, providing independent support without requiring modification of adjacent natural teeth. Because implants transmit chewing forces to the underlying bone, they help preserve bone volume and facial contours over time, which can be particularly beneficial when replacing several teeth in a row. Traditional tooth-supported bridges, by contrast, rely on crowns placed on neighboring teeth and therefore require those teeth to be prepared and sometimes reshaped to accept the restoration.
Both approaches can achieve excellent function and esthetics, but implant solutions typically offer superior long-term stability and bone preservation when patients are suitable candidates. The choice often hinges on bone quality, medical history, presence of periodontal disease, and patient preferences regarding invasive procedures. A thorough evaluation will clarify which option offers the best prognosis for individual needs.
A comprehensive assessment is the first step in determining candidacy for a bridge and includes a review of your medical and dental history, a clinical exam, and diagnostic imaging to evaluate bone levels and the condition of potential abutment teeth. The dentist will assess periodontal health, tooth mobility, decay, existing restorations, and occlusion to determine whether adjacent teeth can reliably support a bridge or if implants are a more appropriate option. Routine habits such as bruxism, smoking status, and oral hygiene practices are also considered because they influence treatment choice and long-term success.
When implants are contemplated, additional evaluation of bone volume and quality is necessary, and your provider may recommend bone grafting or other preparatory procedures if needed. Treatment planning also includes discussing esthetic goals, timing, and maintenance requirements so you can make an informed decision. Clear communication with your dental team ensures the selected approach aligns with your functional needs and expectations.
Treatment for a traditional tooth-supported bridge typically begins with preparing the abutment teeth by removing a portion of enamel to make room for crowns, followed by impressions or digital scans to fabricate a custom restoration. A temporary bridge is placed while the final restoration is made, and patients can expect short-term sensitivity that generally resolves as the mouth adjusts. When implants are part of the plan, the process involves surgical placement of implants, a healing period for osseointegration, and subsequent attachment of the final bridge once the implants are fully integrated.
Throughout the process your dental team will provide instructions for care, pain management, and any necessary dietary modifications to support healing and adaptation. Follow-up visits allow the dentist to check fit, occlusion, and tissue health and to make minor adjustments as needed. Clear expectations and consistent communication help ensure a smooth treatment experience and a predictable outcome.
Good oral hygiene is essential to the longevity of a bridge and includes brushing twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste and cleaning around the restoration with interdental brushes or floss threaders to remove plaque beneath pontics and around abutments. Regular professional cleanings and checkups allow the dental team to monitor the health of supporting teeth and surrounding gums and to catch early signs of decay or periodontal problems. Avoiding habits that place excessive force on the bridge, such as opening packages with your teeth or chewing very hard objects, reduces the risk of damage.
When implants support a bridge, maintaining peri-implant tissue health with meticulous cleaning and routine periodontal assessments is critical to prevent inflammation around the implant. Your dentist or hygienist will demonstrate the most effective tools and techniques for your specific bridge design and will recommend a maintenance schedule tailored to your oral health. Consistent home care and professional monitoring are the best predictors of long-term success.
A properly designed bridge can protect the alignment of neighboring teeth by preventing undesirable drifting into an extraction site, but it can also place additional demands on abutment teeth that must be healthy and stable to function as reliable supports. If abutment teeth are compromised by decay, fracture, or periodontal disease, the risk of restoration failure increases, so these conditions must be treated or stabilized before a bridge is placed. Careful material selection, precise fit, and balanced occlusion help minimize stress on supporting teeth and distribute forces evenly across the restoration.
Ongoing evaluation of adjacent teeth and gum tissues is important to detect early changes that could compromise the bridge, such as recurrent decay at margins or progressive periodontal disease. Maintaining excellent oral hygiene and attending regular dental visits reduces those risks and helps preserve both the bridge and the surrounding natural dentition. Collaborative planning between patient and dental team ensures the chosen solution supports overall oral health goals.
Common complications include decay at the margins of supporting crowns, gum inflammation around abutment teeth or implants, and mechanical issues such as loosening or fracture of the bridge components. Early detection through regular dental visits allows minimally invasive interventions, such as repair of a crown margin, periodontal therapy, or replacement of worn components, before more extensive treatment becomes necessary. When an implant-supported bridge shows signs of peri-implantitis, prompt professional care and possible regenerative procedures may be required to restore tissue health.
Proper case selection, meticulous preparation, and patient adherence to home care significantly reduce the likelihood of complications, and your dental team will outline preventive measures tailored to your situation. If complications do occur, a thoughtful, stepwise approach that prioritizes preservation of natural tooth structure and tissue health guides decision-making. Timely communication with your dentist helps ensure effective management and better long-term outcomes.
The lifespan of a bridge varies with the type of restoration, oral hygiene, the health of supporting structures, and the materials used, with many bridges providing reliable service for several years when properly cared for. Implant-supported bridges often have excellent long-term stability because implants preserve bone and offer strong support, while tooth-supported bridges depend heavily on the condition of the abutment teeth and surrounding gum tissue. Regular maintenance, avoidance of excessive occlusal forces, and prompt attention to early problems improve the odds of a durable result.
Material advances and precise laboratory techniques contribute to improved longevity and esthetics, but patient factors such as smoking, poorly controlled diabetes, or untreated bruxism can negatively affect outcomes. Your dentist will discuss expected prognosis for your specific case and recommend strategies to lengthen the service life of the restoration. Ongoing professional monitoring allows adjustments and preventive care that support long-term success.
At Cherokee Smiles Dental the team begins with a comprehensive evaluation that includes a review of your medical and dental history, clinical examination, and appropriate imaging to assess bone, periodontal health, and the condition of neighboring teeth. This information is used to present objective options—such as traditional bridges, implant-supported bridges, or removable prosthetics—along with the clinical benefits and limitations of each approach so you can make an informed decision aligned with your goals. The process emphasizes clear communication about expected function, esthetics, treatment timelines, and maintenance requirements rather than subjective comparisons.
Your provider will also tailor recommendations to your lifestyle and oral habits, and when restorative or periodontal issues are present they will outline preparatory steps to optimize the outcome. Shared decision-making ensures the selected plan balances conservation of natural tooth structure with long-term predictability and patient comfort. Follow-up care and a customized maintenance program support the restoration after placement and help protect your oral health for years to come.
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