Dental Bridges

When you are missing one or more teeth, a dental bridge can be a comfortable, lasting way to complete your smile again. At Beautiful Smiles in Plantation, we design custom bridges that look natural and restore the everyday functions you may be missing. Our goal is to help you eat, speak, and smile with renewed confidence.

Restoring a complete smile is about both appearance and function. When the gap is filled, biting forces are shared more evenly across your teeth, your remaining teeth stay in their proper position, and your smile looks whole again.

A well-made bridge blends in naturally with your surrounding teeth, so most people will never know it is there. We take time to match the shape and shade of your replacement teeth to your own, creating a result that feels like a natural part of your smile.

A dental bridge literally bridges the gap left by one or more missing teeth. It is made up of one or more artificial teeth, called pontics, that are securely anchored in place so they stay fixed and do not need to be removed for cleaning.

Because a bridge is held firmly in position, it functions much like your natural teeth for chewing and speaking. With good care, a bridge can be a reliable, comfortable, and attractive solution for years to come.

There is no single bridge that suits everyone, so we recommend the option that best fits your needs, your bite, and the health of the surrounding teeth and bone.

A traditional fixed bridge uses the healthy teeth on either side of the gap as supports, with crowns placed over them to hold the replacement tooth in between. An implant-supported bridge instead rests on dental implants anchored in the jaw, which can be a great choice when several teeth are missing or when you want to avoid altering neighboring teeth. We will review the advantages of each with you before you decide.

Every successful bridge begins with careful planning. We start with a thorough exam, including images of your teeth and supporting bone, to confirm that the foundation for your bridge is healthy and ready.

If any issues such as decay or gum disease are present, we address those first so your new restoration has a stable, healthy base. Once your mouth is prepared, we take precise impressions or digital scans that our dental laboratory uses to craft a bridge designed to fit you comfortably and look natural.

Getting a traditional bridge typically takes two visits. At the first appointment, we gently prepare the supporting teeth on each side of the gap and take an impression or scan so your custom bridge can be made. You will leave with a temporary bridge that protects the area while your final one is created.

At the second visit, we remove the temporary, check the fit and appearance of your new bridge, and bond it securely in place. We make sure your bite feels comfortable and natural before you go, and we are happy to make any small adjustments needed for the perfect fit.

An implant-supported bridge is completed over several stages, since the implants need time to integrate with your jawbone. First, one or more implants are placed in the bone where teeth are missing, and a healing period follows so the implants bond firmly into place.

Once healing is complete, we attach the custom bridge to the implants for a stable, long-lasting result. Because this option relies on implants rather than your natural teeth for support, it helps preserve the neighboring teeth and provides excellent strength and stability for chewing.

We want you to feel fully informed and comfortable before, during, and after your treatment. Below are answers to some of the questions we hear most often about dental bridges, and we welcome any others you may have at your visit.