Dental Bridges
Hillsboro, OR

Missing teeth, even if it’s just only one, is a serious issue, and can significantly impact your quality of life. Replacing those missing teeth is critical for restoring the functions of your mouth, your smile, and your oral health. At Hillsboro Dental Center, we offer several options for replacing missing teeth, including dental bridges.

How Do Missing Teeth Affect Your Life?

Missing teeth, even just one, can have a significant impact on your life. First, depending upon the location of your missing teeth, it can affect the quality of your smile, and diminish your confidence. Missing teeth can make it more difficult to thoroughly chew your food. Chewing is the first step in digestion and is crucial for breaking down the foods you eat to make nutrients easily accessible. Poor chewing results in poor digestion (which can lead to malnutrition). Food can get stuck, and it can be difficult to keep the gaps clean, increasing your risk for gum disease. Your speech may be affected. Finally, adjacent teeth begin to shift from their natural alignment into space, throwing off your bite, which leads to a whole host of other problems.

What is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is a restorative appliance that literally “bridges the gap” left behind by one to three missing teeth. The most common type of bridge is a fixed bridge. This type of bridge consists of pontic (false) teeth set between two dental crowns. It can be made from porcelain fused to metal or from ceramic, both of which provide a beautiful, natural appearance. The crown anchor on to the adjacent healthy teeth (called abutment teeth). These teeth hold your bridge securely in place.

How is a Bridge Placed?

A dental bridge typically takes two visits to complete. During your first visit, we prepare the abutment teeth. This involves trimming (removing) a portion of the enamel from each tooth, which is done under a local anesthetic. Removing some of the enamel helps to ensure that your bridge fits in naturally, and comfortably, with the rest of your teeth. After the teeth are prepared, we then take an impression of your mouth. The impression is sent to our lab, where your bridge is designed and created. It can take up to two weeks for your bridge to be completed. While you wait, we will provide you with a temporary bridge, which will help to protect the abutment teeth, as well as restore some of the functions of your mouth. When the bridge is ready, we will bring you back in for your second visit. During this visit, we check the bridge for fit and secure it in place using a special dental cement.

Benefits of a Dental Bridge

Dental bridges offer numerous benefits:

•	They allow you to eat properly again (and enjoy all of your favorite foods). With proper chewing, your digestion improves, which can then improve your overall nutrition.
•	Your speech is improved.
•	Your smile is restored.
•	A bridge fills an empty gap, which helps to prevent food from getting stuck, helping to improve your oral health.
•	A bridge holds your adjacent teeth in their proper alignment, preventing them from shifting.

If you are missing teeth, even if it’s just one, it is important to have them replaced right away. Call Hillsboro Dental Center today at (503) 648-2829 to find out if a dental bridge is right for you.

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