Make Your Smile Complete Again with Dental Bridges in Kenosha, WI
Losing a tooth creates more than just an embarrassing gap. It creates challenges for eating and speaking, adds stress on adjacent teeth, increases the risk of gum disease, and may change the shape of your face over time. Restore a healthy, functional smile with dental bridges from our experienced dental team in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Dr. Patrick Crawford has the latest tools and technology that make oral bridges easier and faster than you might think.
How Dental Bridges Work
A dental bridge is a permanent restoration to replace missing teeth. It works by creating prosthetic teeth to “bridge” the gap left by a missing tooth or teeth. If you have a missing tooth and don’t want an implant, we can prep the adjacent teeth on either side of the space and make a bridge. Like a dental crown, bridges can be matched in size, shape, and color to your natural teeth. Crowns apply to a single tooth, where a bridge covers several teeth.
At Dr. Pat Crawford, DDS, bridges, crowns, and other complex dental work are our specialty. In many cases, we can create your custom-fitted dental bridge in a single visit, right here in our Kenosha, WI, office. That means you get your smile back for less money, with less time in the dental chair. If you think you might need a bridge or a crown, contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Dental Bridges Explained
Types of Dental Bridges
Explore the four common types of oral bridges. We can help you determine which one is right for you, based on your oral health, how many teeth are missing, and your preferences.
Traditional Bridges
A traditional bridge is anchored by crowns on the healthy teeth adjacent to the gap. The supporting teeth, called abutment teeth, are prepared for crowns. The bridge itself consists of an artificial tooth with crowns attached. We use strong dental cement to attach the crowns to the prepared teeth, securing the entire bridge in place.
Cantilever Bridge
This is a good choice for when you don’t have healthy teeth available on both sides of the gap. Like a traditional bridge, this technique attaches an artificial tooth to a crown on the abutment tooth. However, because it’s only anchored on one side, this type of fixed bridge is only recommended for front teeth where it’s under less stress from chewing.
Maryland Bridge
If you’re looking for a more conservative treatment that doesn’t involve crowns, a Maryland bridge may be an option. In this case, wings made of resin, porcelain, or metal are bonded to the back of the artificial tooth and the two abutment teeth. While it’s generally cheaper, it’s less durable and not strong enough to replace molars.
Implant-Supported Bridge
The strongest bridge option is an implant-supported bridge. Here, the bridge is attached to anchors surgically implanted into the jawbone. You may need multiple implants to fill the gap, depending on the number and location of the missing teeth, but don’t worry, we can do a whole-mouth reconstruction with just four implants. This can be a fixed bridge or removable for easier cleaning. While implant-supported bridges may be more expensive, they offer unparalleled stability and preserve long-term jawbone strength and density.
If you’re looking for dental bridges in Kenosha, WI, let Dr. Pat Crawford help you choose the ideal oral bridge solution to help you return to a healthy, confident smile.
