Custom Dental Bridges Restore Aesthetics and Comfort
Dr. Joseph T. Mormino offers custom dental bridges at his Staten Island, NY, practice to replace several missing teeth in a row. We provide both traditional bridges (supported by crowns) and dental implant-supported bridges. Each bridge is completely customized to look natural and contribute to a comfortable, balanced bite.
The importance of a complete smile
Multiple consecutive missing teeth can cause significant problems for your smile. Gaps make chewing difficult and can cause speech problems as well. Missing teeth also take a significant toll on the appearance of your smile. Over time, missing teeth can cause a misaligned bite, which can lead to pain in your temporomandibular joints (TMJs). In short, if you are missing one or more teeth, replacing them as soon as possible can save you considerable discomfort.
Creating and Placing Dental Bridges
Dr. Mormino offers both traditional and implant-supported bridges to restore your smile. Traditional bridges are supported by dental crowns placed on the adjacent teeth. This involves some reshaping of the healthy teeth to accommodate the crowns, which Dr. Mormino will perform at the beginning your appointment. Once the teeth are prepped, he will take impressions of your teeth, which will help ensure your bridge fits properly. Depending on the type of material you select, we can either craft your bridge in our on-site laboratory or we can work with a local dental lab.
If you are missing one or more teeth, replacing them as soon as possible can save you considerable discomfort.
If we must send your impressions out to another lab, it may take up to two weeks before we can place it. In the meantime, Dr. Mormino will place temporary crowns over your prepped teeth to protect them. Once your bridge is prepared, Dr. Mormino will remove the temporary crowns. He will place the bridge over the teeth to ensure a proper fit. He will then use a strong dental cement to secure the bridge in place. He will perform a final check to ensure your bridge does not negatively affect your bite.
If you choose an implant-supported bridge, you must first undergo dental implant surgery. After you have completely healed, Dr. Mormino can create a bridge that will attach to the implants.
Benefits of Dental Bridges
Both traditional and implant-supported bridges offer numerous benefits. By replacing the missing teeth with a bridge, we can restore function to your smile, allowing you to chew and speak properly again.
An implant-supported bridge offers additional advantages. Because the implants act as your natural tooth roots, they prevent the jaw bone atrophy that results from losing teeth. This further protects against gum disease, shifting teeth, and additional tooth loss. An implant-supported bridge also requires no alteration of healthy teeth.
Schedule a Consultation Today
To find out which dental bridge option is right for you, contact our office today and schedule a consultation with Dr. Mormino. After a thorough examination, he can recommend an appropriate solution.
