Dental Blog

What Happens During the Dental Bridge Procedure?

What Happens During the Dental Bridge Procedure?

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dental bridge dentist holland miDr. Habecker may recommend the dental bridge procedure to replace a missing tooth. This will help prevent the adjacent teeth from drifting in the open space left in your mouth.

A dental bridge contains a prosthetic tooth that’s anchored in place by crowns on both sides. Depending on your circumstances, we may place these crowns on either natural teeth or implants.

Here’s what else you need to know about the dental bridge procedure.

Consultation With Our Dentist

First, you’ll need to schedule a consultation with our dentist. Dr. Habecker will help you explore your tooth replacement options which include dental bridges, implants, and dentures.

Our ultimate goal is to help restore your oral health so you can smile with confidence. We also want to recommend the least invasive options first so you can preserve as much natural tooth enamel as possible.

For example, we may recommend a dental implant if you have sufficient bone density in your jaw. A dental implant is less invasive than a bridge because we don’t have to file down the adjacent teeth to make room.

Likewise, partial dentures may be a less invasive option if you’re missing one or a few teeth.

Preparing the Mouth for the Dental Bridge

The dental bridge procedure takes two visits to our office.

During your first appointment, we’ll need to file down the two adjacent teeth. That way, the dental crowns will be able to fit on top without making your teeth look unnaturally large or bulky.

Once we’ve filed down those teeth, we’ll take dental impressions of your smile and send them to the lab. Then, we’ll create temporary crowns to place over the teeth we filed. This will help protect them until your new dental bridge is ready to be placed.

Placing the Dental Bridge

When you arrive for your second appointment, your new dental bridge will be ready. Dr. Habecker will remove your temporary crowns and place the dental bridge in your mouth. This is so he can ensure that the dental bridge is the correct size, shape, and color to match the rest of your smile.

Once Dr. Habecker is satisfied with how the bridge looks and fits, he’ll bond it in place. The result is a dental bridge that looks and feels natural.

At-Home Dental Care

Your dental bridge will last longer if you practice good oral hygiene at home. Our dentist recommends that you brush your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes at a time. You should also floss twice a day to remove any trapped food particles and plaque between teeth.

In general, a dental bridge will last between 5 and 15 years. But we may have to replace your dental bridge sooner if you smoke, grind your teeth, or neglect your oral hygiene.

During your next appointment for preventive care, Dr. Habecker will examine your dental bridge and the rest of your smile. He’ll look for any signs of wear and tear that may indicate it’s time to replace the bridge.

If the bridge is damaged or worn, we’ll replace the bridge before it compromises the teeth underneath.

Learn More About the Dental Bridge Procedure

Dr. Brenton Habecker is a trusted family dentist in Holland, MI. As such, he and his team would be more than happy to help you maintain a healthy smile for life! To schedule an appointment, please call Macatawa Smiles at (616) 396-7524. You may also fill out our online contact form.

COVID-19 UPDATE FROM DR. HABECKER AND HIS TEAM

Dear Patient Family,

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a difficult time for all of us. Many of you have been forced to wait for dental care and we appreciate your understanding while we kept our office closed to follow orders from the Governor's Office.

We are happy to say that we are opening our office for all patient treatment on June 1st, 2020. Our hours of operation will go back to normal, Monday-Thursday 8am - 5pm. We want you to know that there will be some changes at your next appointment. Please be patient with us as our protocols will inevitably change as new guidelines are released.

  • We ask that you use our parking lot as the waiting room.
  • Please wear a mask when you come into the office and leave it on until entering the treatment room. Homemade is acceptable.
  • Only the person receiving treatment should come in the building, all others will be asked to wait in the car if at all possible. The exception will be for our minor patients who may have one parent accompany them.
  • We will be asking you some questions when you arrive at the office and we will also be taking your temperature.
  • We will not be able to offer magazines, drinks, or toys at this time as they cannot be disinfected to our standards. Eventually this will change and we will be happy to offer our amenities once again.

These changes have been made to adhere to the latest CDC guidelines and for the benefit of our patients and our staff. We want you to know that our office has always taken the safety of our patients very seriously and that we will continue to follow the highest levels of sterilization and disinfection to keep you protected. If you would like more information on what measures we have taken we would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

We cannot say how excited we are to see all of our patients again and to provide for their dental needs. We look forward to seeing all of your smiling faces soon!

Dr. Habecker and Team