Porcelain Fixed Bridges in San Francisco, CA

A Beautiful Way To Replace Missing Teeth

A dental bridge is an excellent way to restore missing teeth and provide natural-looking results. At Symphony Dental Studio, we can use porcelain dental bridges to restore your smile’s appearance, whether you’re missing a single tooth or several teeth. Contact our office in San Francisco, CA, today to find out how dental bridges can restore your teeth and your confidence.

Why Get a Fixed Bridge?

If you have any missing teeth, it’s always worth replacing them to benefit your oral health and your self-esteem by having a complete smile. Missing teeth can cause other teeth to shift out of place and lead to jaw bone loss because there are no roots present to stimulate the bone. Replacing missing teeth with a dental bridge can improve your ability to chew and speak, as well as prevent bite problems that can result from tooth loss.

Types of Dental Bridges

There are several types of dental bridges that can restore your smile using different approaches. At Symphony Dental Studio, we offer porcelain bridges, which are popular because porcelain has a natural tooth-colored appearance. A porcelain bridge consists of two crowns that are placed over anchoring teeth and attached to pontics, or false teeth, to fill in areas where teeth are missing.

The other types of bridges include cantilever bridges, which rely on a single anchor tooth, Maryland bridges, which use metal framework to support false teeth instead of crowns, and implant-supported bridges, which use dental implants for support. Porcelain bridges are a popular option for many patients because they look natural and restore functionality to your smile.

What To Expect When Receiving a Fixed Dental Bridge

Receiving a dental bridge typically takes two office visits. During the first visit, we will prepare the teeth that will support the bridge, also called abutment teeth. Your dentist will take impressions of your teeth and resize the abutment teeth as necessary. These teeth must be ground down so that the crowns can fit securely over them. We will provide you with a temporary bridge to wear while your permanent one is being fabricated.

Once your final bridge is ready, you will return to our office for a second visit. Your dentist will remove the temporary bridge, clean the teeth, and place the final bridge. Fixed bridges are cemented in place and will remain in your mouth at all times. In some cases, we will temporarily cement the bridge to ensure it fits properly, and then permanently cement it in place on a later date. Once complete, you will have durable, beautiful replacement teeth.

How Long Does a Dental Bridge Last?

Bridges will need to be replaced due to normal wear and tear as recommended by your dentist. A dental bridge can last for 5–7 years or longer with proper care. Porcelain is very durable and if you keep your bridge clean and cared for, it can last for a decade or longer. You can extend the lifespan of your dental bridge by avoiding biting into or chewing very hard foods and practicing good oral hygiene every day.