Dental bridges are often beneficial for individuals missing one or multiple teeth in a row. This treatment involves the placement of a prosthesis that is anchored to your natural teeth with dental crowns. This can be a good option for patients who are not candidates for dental implants but who would like to improve their bite and enhance their smile. Our Elgin cosmetic dentist, Dean Lodding, DDS, has extensive experience helping patients restore their smiles with beautiful, long-lasting results.
Dental bridges offer many benefits for individuals who need to replace multiple missing or severely damaged teeth. This restorative treatment provides a range of potential benefits, including:
A good candidate for a dental bridge is typically someone who is missing one or more teeth and has healthy teeth or dental implants on either side of the gap to support the restoration. Ideal candidates should maintain good oral hygiene, have healthy gums, and sufficient bone structure to stabilize supporting teeth. Dental bridges may be recommended if tooth loss affects your ability to chew, speak clearly, or smile confidently. Patients who are not suitable candidates for dental implants, due to health conditions or bone loss, often find bridges to be an effective alternative. However, individuals with severe gum disease, extensive tooth decay, or inadequate support teeth may require treatment before bridge placement to ensure long-term success and stability.
During your initial consultation with Dr. Lodding, a full assessment of your dental needs and aesthetic goals will be evaluated to determine whether dental bridges or a different restorative dentistry option—such as an implant denture—is best-suited to delivering your desired outcome.
Both dental bridges and dental implants can fill the gap left by a missing tooth, but they work in different ways. A traditional bridge anchors a replacement tooth to crowns placed on the neighboring teeth, which means those teeth must be reshaped. Treatment is typically completed in a few weeks and does not require surgery.
A dental implant replaces the tooth root with a titanium post placed in the jawbone. Implants can preserve bone and leave adjacent teeth untouched, but the process involves surgery and several months of healing.
The right choice for you generally depends on the health of your surrounding teeth, bone density, timeline, and budget. Dr. Lodding can review both options with you and recommend the best fit for your needs and smile goals.
If Dr. Lodding believes you may be a good candidate for a dental bridge, he can create a custom treatment plan. At your first appointment, Dr. Lodding will administer a local anesthetic to numb the treatment area and help make the procedure more comfortable for you. Each tooth near the gap will be cleaned and prepped to receive crowns for either side of the bridge. Our master ceramist will then work with Dr. Lodding to examine the area and take any molds necessary to create your crowns and bridge. These are completely customized to your needs and are designed to blend seamlessly amongst your other teeth. Once your crowns and bridge are placed, Dr. Lodding will ensure they fit comfortably in your mouth and that your bite is balanced.
Recovery is usually quick and relatively comfortable, with patients often returning to normal daily activities shortly after treatment. Some patients may experience mild sensitivity or soreness in the gums and supporting teeth for a few days after placement, which typically improves with time. Over-the-counter pain relievers and avoiding very hot, cold, or sticky foods can help ease initial discomfort. Most people adjust to speaking and chewing with their bridge within a week or two. Good oral hygiene, including brushing, flossing, and regular dental checkups, helps keep the bridge and surrounding teeth healthy. With proper care, recovery can be smooth and the bridge can feel and function like natural teeth.
Dental bridges are made with high-quality materials, enabling them to last many years—or even decades—with proper care and maintenance. It is important to closely follow the post-treatment instructions provided by your dentist to ensure a healthy, long-lasting result. Maintaining good oral hygiene can also help prolong the life of your dental appliance. Daily brushing and flossing combined with routine professional cleanings create a healthy foundation for your restoration while enabling your dentist to monitor its condition over time.
When you choose Dr. Lodding for your dental bridge, you’re trusting your smile to a leader in cosmetic and restorative dentistry. A member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Lodding previously served as the organization’s Accreditation Chair and sat on its board before briefly serving as AACD President. He is also a co-founder of the American Academy of Oral Systemic Health, so he considers the connection between oral health and overall wellness when planning your care. Dr. Lodding combines innovative technologies with the latest dentistry techniques and carefully evaluates the color, shape, and proportions of your natural teeth, so your bridge can blend seamlessly with your smile. These accomplishments reflect the expertise and dedication patients can count on.
The cost of a dental bridge is determined from patient to patient, depending on your dental needs. Dr. Lodding will examine your teeth in a consultation and create a custom treatment plan to address your oral concerns. He will also detail an estimate for the cost of the procedure. After contacting your insurance company, we can help determine what may be covered before your appointment. Our practice offers a variety of different dental financing and payment options that can help make the cost of treatment as budget-friendly as possible.
Here are some of the questions we most commonly receive about dental bridges. If you do not see your questions below, our staff will be happy to talk with you about any concerns you may have.
Yes, there are two different types of bridges. A fixed bridge can only be taken out by a dentist, while a removable bridge is one you can take out and clean as needed. Dr. Lodding can review both with you during your appointment.
A regular at-home dental hygiene routine should be enough to maintain a fixed dental bridge. We recommend that this include brushing your teeth twice daily, flossing, and visiting the dentist at least two times per year.
The timing often depends on how quickly the extraction site heals. In most cases, it's best to wait about three to six months after a tooth extraction before placing a permanent bridge. This allows the gums and underlying bone to heal and reshape, so the bridge can be designed to fit snugly without gaps forming beneath it later. You won't have to go without a tooth in the meantime, though. A temporary bridge or removable partial can usually fill the space while you heal.
Most patients can eat normally with a dental bridge once they adjust to it. After placement, it’s best to start with soft foods and gradually reintroduce harder or stickier foods as comfort improves. A properly fitted bridge can restore chewing ability, allowing you to enjoy a wide variety of foods. To protect your bridge and supporting teeth, it’s wise to avoid excessively hard items like ice or nutshells.
A dental bridge may cause slight changes in speech at first, especially if you are missing front teeth, but most patients adjust quickly. As you get used to the bridge, your tongue and lips adapt, and speech usually returns to normal within a few days. In fact, replacing missing teeth often improves clarity by filling gaps that previously caused slurring or whistling sounds. Practicing reading aloud or speaking slowly can help speed up the adjustment. With proper fit and care, a bridge should not negatively impact your speech and can enhance both function and confidence in daily communication.
When performed by a skilled and experienced dentist, results can look incredibly natural. Today's dental bridges are crafted from high-quality materials that closely mimic the translucency of natural tooth enamel. Dr. Lodding can carefully match the shade of your bridge to your surrounding teeth and customize the size and shape of each replacement tooth so it complements your smile. With his background in cosmetic dentistry, he pays close attention to details including how light reflects off the teeth and how the bridge meets the gumline.