Address Tooth Loss with a Dental Bridge
Adental bridge can replace one or more consecutive missing teeth, restoring the form and function of your smile. Dr. Jerry Hancock offers traditional bridges, as well as implant-supported restorations at his Nashville, TN, practice and can recommend the most suitable option for your needs, goals, and preferences. Affixed to dental implants, implant-supported bridges provide added stability and comfort and help to preserve your jawbone against degeneration. Each of our restorations is crafted from remarkably lifelike materials, yielding a natural color and sheen that blends seamlessly with your smile.
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Dr. Hancock can take detail digital x-rays to determine whether a dental bridge is right for you.
Candidates for Dental Bridges
You may qualify for a bridge if you are the missing one or more teeth in a row. Traditional bridges feature artificial teeth (pontics) nestled between two dental crowns, which attach to adjacent teeth. Accordingly, to be eligible for this type of restoration, your teeth must be healthy enough to support a bridge.
If you are interested in an implant-supported bridge, Dr. Hancock must take into account your jawbone strength and density. Implant-supported restorations are affixed to dental implants, which are surgically embedded in your jawbone. If you have suffered bone recession following tooth loss, the surrounding bone tissue may not be strong enough to uphold the posts. As a result, you may require a preliminary bone graft to restore your candidacy. Using advanced technology including digital x-rays, Dr. Hancock can evaluate your teeth and jaw to determine the restoration most appropriate for you.
Implant-Supported vs. Traditional Bridges
Implant-supported bridges and traditional bridges perform the same function, restoring lost teeth and filling the gaps in your smile. Both options can repair your ability to eat comfortably and speak properly. However, for qualifying patients, implant-supported bridges are often more stable and secure. As they are supported by dental implants, these restorations do not require us to reshape adjacent healthy teeth. Dental implants can also promote jawbone health by mimicking natural tooth roots. With each bite you take, implants will stimulate the jawbone, emitting regenerative signals to encourage new tissue growth, halt jaw recession, and prevent tooth loss.
Each of our restorations is crafted from remarkably lifelike materials, yielding a natural color and sheen that blends seamlessly with your smile.
Traditional bridges are often a more affordable alternative to implant-supported bridges, and are a great solution for patients who are not candidates for implant surgery.
Placing a Traditional Bridge
If you are receiving a traditional bridge, Dr. Hancock can begin by reshaping the two teeth that will support your bridge. He can then take impressions of your smile, noting the shade of your teeth to ensure the most natural-looking results. Impressions will be sent to our trusted partner laboratory, where your restoration will be fabricated over the next one to two weeks. In the interim, Dr. Hancock may provide you with a temporary bridge for added comfort. Once your restoration is complete, we can check to make sure it fits securely in your bite without disrupting occlusion, before bonding it in place.
For your comfort, we offer both local anesthetic as well as sedation. We can review our options and help you select the most effective method for your needs.
Repair Your Smile Today
You do not have to struggle with missing teeth and an incomplete smile. Contact our office online or all us at (615) 383-0132 to learn more about bridges and the benefits of treatment. At our practice, we are dedicated to providing patients with exceptional care tailored to their unique needs.