Dental Bridges

Bridging the Gap

For patients with missing teeth that aren’t good candidates for implants, a dental bridge can be an economical, long-lasting solution. A bridge is a good way to protect and restore your bite and help maintain the natural shape of your face.

How Bridges Work

Bridges literally bridge the gap created when teeth are lost. Typically a bridge consists of one or more artificial teeth (pontics) which are held in place by two dental crowns (abutments). Our SE Portland dentist creates a bridge by reshaping existing teeth on either side of the missing tooth/teeth to prepare them for crowns. The crowns/abutments provide a stable base for the pontics to attach to. Once the teeth are prepared, we take an optical scan with our CEREC unit. Depending on the situation, a temporary bridge may be made and placed by our team. In other cases, the bridge can be made and placed on the same day as the preparation appointment.

A new bridge may take a little while to get used to, but after a few days it should feel like you have your own teeth back again.