Something Missing from Your Smile?

Find Your Smile: Dental Bridges in Blue Island, Illinois

Nothing diminishes the attractiveness of a smile quite like a missing tooth. Fortunately, Dr. Ronnie Ata and the team at Bright Smile Family Dental can help restore your smile with a dental bridge.

Dental bridges come with numerous benefits, such as restored speech and chewing ability. A dental bridge also helps prevent neighboring teeth from moving out of position (which can lead to future bite issues and oral oral health complications). Of course, one benefit that cannot be ignored, you will once again be able to smile with total confidence. 

Ready to see if a dental bridge is the right restorative treatment for you? Get a consultation on dental bridges in Blue Island, Illinois — call Bright Smile Family Dental today!

What is a Dental Bridge?

Has your dentist recommended a dental bridge, but you’re not exactly sure what this is and how it works?  A dental bridge is a restorative procedure that replaces a missing tooth with a prosthetic tooth known as a pontic. To support the prosthetic tooth, the two teeth adjacent to the missing tooth undergo odontoplasty (tooth reshaping) to allow room for the porcelain crowns that will hold the pontic in place. A dental bridge is a fixed prosthesis, which means it is bonded in place and cannot be removed without the help of your dentist.

Dental Bridges vs. Implants: How Do They Compare?

The two most popular tooth replacement options are dental bridges and implants. Both of these can replace a missing tooth with a restoration, but the similarities end there. Let’s compare the benefits of these restorative options. 

• Cost. One of the biggest deciding factors in choosing between dental implants and crowns is cost. To have a dental implant placed can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000, yet this is just the implant; the abutment and final restoration will set you back another $1,300 to $2,500, which means the total cost of replacing a tooth with a dental implant can range anywhere from $2,300 to $5,500. Compare that to the cost of a dental bridge, which is typically in the $1,100 to $1,500 range.
• Function. Since they are surgically implanted into the jawbone, dental implants hold an advantage over bridges in terms of function. Since the pontic of the bridge is held in place by crowns on the two adjacent teeth, you should never chew hard, sticky, or crunchy foods directly on the bridge.
• Longevity. Most dental bridges last around 15 years, whereas dental implants can last 25 years or even a lifetime.
• Appearance. We know that you not only want to replace your tooth, you also want it to look great. Both dental bridges and implants can achieve similarly desirable esthetic results.
• Oral health. One of the benefits of dental implants is they engage with the bone tissue, which helps to limit the amount of bone loss over time. Since the artificial tooth of a dental bridge does not interact with the jawbone, some degree of bone loss can be expected, which can lead to complications down the road.

How Much Does a Dental Bridge Cost?

A dental bridge is an investment in your health and smile. And, like all investments, they come at a cost. Depending on the materials you choose and the location of the tooth being replaced, a dental bridge can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000. Most dental insurance plans cover a portion of this procedure, which can help lower your out-of-pocket costs.

What is a Maryland Dental Bridge?

With conventional dental bridges, some enamel needs to be removed so two adjacent crowns can support an artificial tooth. A Maryland dental bridge, on the other hand, does not require any tooth enamel to be removed. Instead of two crowns being placed, two metal wings are cemented onto the back side of the neighboring teeth. A composite material is then placed over the wings to create a smooth surface. With this method, no tooth material needs to be removed, and the procedure is completely reversible in case you choose to have a dental implant placed in the future.