Dental Bridges Alexandria VA | Missing Teeth Crystal City

A dental bridge is a reliable treatment option for replacing a missing tooth or several consecutive missing teeth. With the many advances in tooth replacement, today’s dental bridges can be made secure, comfortable, and natural-looking for a functional smile.

Dr. Mojgan Mazhari places dental bridges in our Alexandria dentist office and patients benefit from her advanced training in treating complex problems such as tooth loss. Here’s what you need to know. 

Dental Bridge Treatment: What To Expect

Replacing lost teeth with a dental bridge is a multi-step process, beginning with preparation for anchoring the bridge with either existing teeth or new dental implants. Suppose your dental bridge is to be anchored to existing teeth. In that case, we typically recommend the placement of dental crowns to provide added strength and stability to your teeth to enable them to support the bridge without becoming damaged over time. 

Dr. Mazhari may place your new crown during a single visit using CEREC technology, an in-office CAD/CAM milling machine enabling her to design, fabricate, and place a high-quality ceramic crown with optimum efficiency.

The next step is to take dental impressions used in designing and creating your dental bridge. These are sent to a dental lab, but you may receive a temporary bridge in the meantime to help you get used to the fit and function of a dental bridge. In a couple of weeks, your dental bridge is permanently secured to the anchor teeth, providing you with a comfortable, natural-looking smile that enables you to enjoy normal speech, a healthy diet, and a good quality of life each day.

Dental Implants vs. Dental Bridges: What Is the Best Option?

Several key factors affect your long-term result when choosing the best option for replacing missing teeth. Dr. Mazhari discusses these with you in detail so you can make the best decision. 

Health and bone structure

Only patients with good health and bone structure will be candidates for dental implants. In some cases, bone grafting procedures can be completed if additional support is needed. If you’re not a candidate for dental implants, a dental bridge may be the best solution.

Cost

While the cost of a dental bridge may be more affordable in the short term than a dental implant, implants typically provide a better long-term solution for specific issues and are less likely to need repair or replacement in the future.

Stable restoration

Dental implants provide a restoration that’s just like a natural tooth. The dental implant is anchored to the bone, allowing you to eat whatever you want, brush and floss normally, and have unaffected speech. While the dental bridge itself is highly durable, the concern is for the health of neighboring teeth. If one of the anchor teeth fails or needs dental work, it compromises the entire dental bridge.

Your initial consultation is a valuable source of information regarding the best treatment for your condition.