Reliable Tooth Restoration: LaGrange Dentistry Dental Bridge Procedures

LaGrange Dentistry provides professionally crafted dental bridges to preserve the shape and integrity of your bite. When one tooth or a few teeth in an arch are missing, a dental bridge can fill the gap, stabilize your bite, and protect your other teeth from shifting. Contact us today at (706) 882-2551 and take the first step towards restoring your teeth.

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What is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is used to replace one or more missing teeth by bridging artificial teeth (pontics) or false teeth between healthy, natural teeth or dental implants. These natural teeth are fitted with crowns to hold the bridges in place. Bridges are custom-fitted to your mouth and are most commonly made of porcelain, ceramic, or metal bonded with porcelain for a natural look and long-lasting function.

In LaGrange Dentistry, we customize each bridge to an individual's specifications, adjusting bite pressures, oral anatomy, and decades of durability.

Options for Dental Bridges

We carry several bridges, depending on the position of missing teeth and the dental issues that concern you:

• Traditional Bridges: These are the most common, where the crowns on either side of the space support the holding pontic (artificial tooth).
• Cantilever Bridges: Employed where there is a single-sided missing tooth with teeth. These require careful placement and are less common.
• Maryland Bonded Bridges: These are employed with a metal or porcelain reinforcement bonded to the back of the adjacent teeth, usually on the front teeth.
• Implant-Supported Bridges: Instead of using the natural teeth to support the bridge, implants are placed in the jawbone, which is the most stable and less stressful on the other teeth.

Dr. Jared Kent is trained in all types of bridge placements and will help you decide what is best for your oral health, budget, and ultimate goal.

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Why Choose a Dental Bridge?

Tooth loss affects more than just the ability to chew—it can lead to bite alignment, speech defects, and additional loss of teeth if not replaced. A dental bridge has several advantages:

• Proper chewing and biting
• Prevents the movement of neighboring teeth
• Structural support to the jaw and facial contour

At LaGrange Dentistry, we design our bridges with special care and aesthetics in mind. We employ quality materials and collaborate with highly skilled dental labs to ensure your restoration is comfortable to wear and functions well.

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Bridge Placement Procedure at Our Office

We take great care with precise planning and thorough consultation before we treat you. The routine bridge procedure includes:

• First Visit: Kent will examine your oral condition, perform digital X-rays, and examine the status of adjacent teeth.
• Preparation: Crowned teeth are prepared. Impressions are taken to create a mold of the bridge.
• Temporary Bridge: A Temporary bridge is fixed until the permanent one is prepared.
• Final Fixing: Correct positioning and fixation of the permanent bridge after preparation.

In certain cases where dental implants are used as abutments, a preliminary implant procedure may be performed prior to inserting bridges. Bridge-supported implants are longer but offer the best stability and longevity.

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Porcelain Bridges: A Natural-Looking Option

Porcelain bridges are one of the best options for those who want durability but a natural appearance. Porcelain restorations are extremely durable and match the color and texture of natural teeth. If you want to replace front teeth or molars, porcelain bridges offer both beauty and durability.

LaGrange Dentistry ensures that your porcelain bridge will match the color of a natural tooth and bite pattern, leading to a natural-looking and comfortable result.

 When a Dental Implant Might Be the Better Choice

Even though traditional bridges function, they place stress on the abutment teeth. This can lead to long-term complications within the oral cavity. In most cases, dental implants would be a better choice, especially when the adjacent teeth are healthy and free of existing restorations, making it inadvisable to alter them.

Implant-supported bridges function independently of surrounding teeth, preserving their integrity. Dr. Kent will examine each case to determine if implants, bridges, or an assortment of both will yield the most satisfactory long-term outcome for oral health.

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Meet Dr. Jared Kent

Dr. Jared Kent provides services at LaGrange Dentistry in patient-centered, evidence-based treatment. Having hands-on experience in restorative dentistry for several years, Dr. Kent has expertise in traditional and modern prosthetic therapy. Dr. Kent believes in efficient treatments that restore functionality and form without harming dental health.

With a background in professional athletics, Dr. Kent knows the value of discipline, preparation, and persistence. These values guide his professional practice as a dentist. With a broad foundation of experience, having worked as an associate dentist, he now puts it to good use in serving the people of LaGrange, where he resides with his family.

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Payment and Insurance

We offer numerous payment options and insurance coverages to make restoration care accessible. If you need it, we can provide bridging treatment without compromising results. You can call our office with individual insurance questions or financial considerations.

Schedule a Bridge Consultation

If you are on the verge of losing a tooth or already have a current bridge to be replaced, LaGrange Dentistry can help. Our team will walk you through your options and design a treatment plan that suits your oral goals.