Beautiful Custom Dental Bridges to Complete Your Smile
A dental bridge will replace one or more missing teeth, filling in the space in your smile and restoring your oral function. Dr. James Slaman places tooth-colored dental bridges made of porcelain, zirconia, or IPS e.max®. Dr. Slaman offers two types of high-quality bridges. You can choose between traditional and implant-supported dental bridges at our modern practice in Albuquerque, NM. With his meticulous techniques, Dr. Slaman can ensure that your restoration blends in seamlessly with your smile.
How Dental Bridges Work
Dental bridges are custom restorations that can be appropriate for replacing one to a few teeth in a row. They can make your smile whole again and restore your ability to bite and chew. By closing the gap in your smile, a bridge can also keep your other teeth from shifting to fill in this space. You have two options when it comes to dental bridges: traditional and implant-supported restorations. A traditional bridge will attach directly to your nearby teeth with a crown on either end. An implant-supported bridge will fit on top of dental implants set permanently in your jaw.
Designing and Placing Your Dental Bridge
To provide a traditional bridge, Dr. Slaman will need to reshape your nearby teeth to support the restoration. He will remove as little tooth material as possible. At the same time, he will make sure that your restoration fits securely and naturally. For minimal discomfort treatment, Dr. Slaman uses advanced technology such as air abrasion instruments to prep your teeth. These tools can remove very precise amounts of tissue, and they do not involve unpleasant noises or vibrations. After your teeth are ready, Dr. Slaman will take impressions, which he will send to our lab. A skilled dental ceramist will create your bridge, making sure that it matches the color and shape of your teeth. When it is back in our office, Dr. Slaman will attach the bridge dental with composite.
If you opt for an implant-supported bridge, Dr. Slaman will first evaluate your jaw using our GALILEOS ComfortPLUS cone beam scanner. With this imaging technology, he can check for bone recession, and he can also plan your custom implants treatment. During your procedure, he will carefully place two or more implants, and your jaw will heal around them. Through the osseointegration process, they will become permanent fixtures in your mouth. Once you have healed, Dr. Slaman will attach your bridge, which, like a traditional bridge, will be custom crafted in our partner lab.
Dental Bridge Restorative Materials
Both traditional and implant-supported bridges are made from ultramodern restorative materials. If your bridge is going in the back of your mouth, it will be made of porcelain or zirconia. Dr. Slaman and the ceramists will ensure that the color of your bridge matches the natural shade of your teeth. If the bridge is visible when you smile, it will be crafted from IPS e.max®. Like your dental enamel, this innovative material is somewhat translucent. Therefore, it will have a realistic sparkle that will blend with the rest of your teeth.
Contact Us for a Restorative Consultation
Dental bridges are a trusted method of restorative dentistry that can be extremely beneficial if you are missing teeth. Contact our office to learn more about dental bridges and to find out which type of bridge may be right for you.
