How long does a bridge last?

Many last a decade or more. What tends to end them is decay at the edge of one of the anchor crowns, which regular checks catch early.

How do I clean under it?

A bridge is one piece, so floss will not pass between the units. You clean underneath it with a floss threader or a small interdental brush, and we will show you exactly how.

Does it involve my healthy teeth?

Yes, and that is the main tradeoff. The teeth on either side are shaped to hold crowns. That is why an implant is often preferred when those teeth are perfectly healthy.

Dental Bridges

Dental Bridges in Kearny Mesa

Fixed in place, not taken out.

Call (858) 256-4838 Text (858) 256-4838

At a glance

What it is: A replacement tooth anchored to the teeth on either side of the gap.
Where: Kearny Mesa Smile Center, 8018 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92111.
When: Fridays and Saturdays, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Visits: Two.
Fixed or removable: Fixed. It does not come out.

A Gap Does NotStay Still

The teeth on either side of a space lean into it. The tooth above or below it drifts looking for something to bite against. Chewing shifts to the other side without you deciding to.

Filling the space stops all three.

How Dental Bridges Work

01. Preparing the anchors. The teeth on either side of the gap are shaped so crowns can sit over them.
02. Records. A scan or impression, plus shade matching.
03. A temporary. You leave with a temporary in place.
04. The laboratory. The bridge is built as one piece: a crown on each side with the replacement tooth joined between them.
05. Fitting. It is fitted, adjusted and cemented in place at the second visit.

Bridge Or Implant

An implant replaces the missing tooth at the root and does not involve the teeth beside it at all. That makes it the better choice for most people most of the time.

A bridge is the better choice when the neighboring teeth already need crowns anyway, when there is not enough bone for an implant and grafting is not the plan, or when a health history makes implant surgery the wrong call.

Dr. Cortes will show you the imaging and tell you which situation you are actually in.