TOOTH REPLACEMENT THAT LIVES UP TO ITS NAME:

BRIDGING THE GAPS IN YOUR SMILE WITH DENTAL BRIDGES

At Pleasant Dental®, we work with patients in and around Dolton, Illinois, to help them avoid the damage that leads to tooth loss. So, yes, you can keep all of your natural teeth as you age!

If we can’t “save” a decayed or otherwise damaged tooth, there are plenty of options to restore your healthy, functional, and attractive smile. One of these options includes dental bridges. 

WHAT’S IN A NAME? 

Think of how an architectural bridge spans two points. It helps to get you from “Point A” to “Point B.” Likewise, dental bridges span the gaps between teeth that are created when a tooth is lost or has to be extracted (removed) as the result of irreparable decay or trauma.

The dental bridge is structured like this:

  • Two dental crowns are made to cover the teeth on either side of the gap
  • These neighboring teeth are called “abutments,” and they will serve to anchor or hold up the replacement tooth or “pontic”
  • At least one pontic is created
  • The crowns and pontic are fused together to create one unit, the “dental bridge”
  • Once the permanent bridge is made and ready to go, it is cemented or fixed securely to the neighboring teeth
  • These neighboring teeth have been reduced in size and reshaped to ensure each crown fits on top of the natural tooth structure properly
  • With the bridge in place, the gap is filled by the pontic or replacement tooth
  • The crowned anchor teeth provide support to the bridge

Dental bridges come in many forms and can be designed in various ways. Your friends at Pleasant Dental® will take a look inside your mouth to determine the best recommendations for treatment based on factors like the number of teeth that need to be replaced as well as the number and location of any remaining healthy teeth.

This tried-and-true tooth replacement can last long with good oral care and proper cleaning underneath the bridge (we can help you with that!). We are also happy to explore a more modern “twist” on conventional dental bridges – the implant-supported bridge.

Call (708) 576-1900 to learn more about how to fill those gaps in your smile and schedule a visit to our office in Dolton, IL, today.

Dental Bridges

Dental Bridges
Replacing missing teeth is essential; no one wants gaps and noticeable spaces in their mouth. Having a bridge inserted into the mouth is a non-invasive technique of filling in missing teeth gaps. The bridge uses the support of adjacent teeth to secure itself, allowing for symmetry and synergy with the rest of your mouth.
Video Transcript

A bridge is a non-surgical way to replace one or many teeth. A bridge uses the adjacent teeth as anchors to support the missing tooth or teeth. With today’s dental advancements, a bridge can be fabricated in a fairly short period of time, using a metal or nonmetal foundation. Don’t let that missing tooth affect the way you speak, eat, and smile. Bridges yield immediate results that last a lifetime. Ask your dentist what type of bridge may be right for you.


Dr. Dean Dietrich, DDM, near me

Dean Dietrich, DDM

Dr. Dean Dietrich has been practicing dentistry since 1986, when he received his Doctor of Dental Medicine from Southern Illinois University's School of Dental Medicine. He had completed his undergraduate studies in business marketing and management at Michigan State University from 1978 to 1982.

He opened Pleasant Dental in 2003 to provide excellent dental care and value for his patients. He is especially skilled and experienced with root canals, implants, and handling dental anxiety.

Dr. Dietrich is a member of the American Dental Association, Illinois State Dental Society, Chicago Dental Society, and the Indian Dental Association. He is licensed in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan and has orthodontic certification from the Academy of GP Orthodontics. Multiple agencies have recognized him annually as one of America’s Top Dentists.