Dental Bridges
A missing tooth affects more than your smile. It can make chewing harder and let nearby teeth drift out of place. At Las Positas Family Dental in Livermore, California, Thi Hoang, DDS, Theresa Hoang, DDS, and the team use custom dental bridges to fill the gap with a natural-looking, fixed replacement. Book online or call (925) 449-7900 to find out if a bridge is right for you.
What is a dental bridge?
A dental bridge replaces one or more missing teeth by anchoring a false tooth (called a pontic) to the teeth or implants on either side of the gap. The supporting teeth are capped with crowns, and the whole bridge is made as one piece and cemented in place. Unlike a partial denture, you never take it out.
Bridges are made from tooth-colored material that is shaded to match your natural teeth, so they blend right in with your smile.
Benefits of a dental bridge
Replacing a missing tooth protects the rest of your smile. A bridge can help with:
Chewing and speaking comfortably
Keeping nearby teeth from shifting
Maintaining your bite and face shape
A complete, natural-looking smile
Because a bridge is fixed in place, it looks and feels like a natural part of your smile, with no removable appliance to clean or take out at night.
Is a bridge or an implant right for me?
Both are excellent ways to replace a missing tooth. A traditional bridge is often quicker and doesn’t require surgery, but it relies on crowns placed on the neighboring teeth. A dental implant replaces the tooth root and leaves neighboring teeth untouched. If you’re missing several teeth in a row, an implant-supported bridge can replace them without relying on your natural teeth at all.
Our dentists place and restore implants right here in our office, so we can walk you through every option at your consultation and help you choose what fits your health, budget and goals.
What happens when I get a bridge?
At your first visit, your dentist numbs the area, gently reshapes the supporting teeth and takes a digital scan for your custom bridge. You’ll leave with a temporary bridge while your final one is made. At your second visit, we check the fit, bite and color, then cement your bridge in place.
With good brushing, cleaning under the bridge and regular checkups, a bridge can last 10 to 15 years or longer. Financing is available through Sunbit and CareCredit.
Ready to fill the gap? Book online or call (925) 449-7900.