A Bridge Not Too Far

There are bridges like the one that connects the U.P. with the rest of Michigan, the famed Mackinaw Bridge. Then there’s the bridge where partners drive each other crazy when they bid their hands poorly.

And then there are the bridges that Dr. Egger is famous for — those that replace a tooth or a couple of teeth. Dental bridges are an option for replacing missing or badly damaged teeth, rescuing your smile from a gap-filled future.

Why replace a missing tooth?

People lose teeth for all kinds of reasons. The pond hockey rule of no puck lifting was broken by one player and your tooth paid the price. A tooth was so badly decayed that it couldn’t be saved and was extracted. A tooth had a crack that compromised the strength of the tooth to the degree that it had to be extracted.

Some people who lose a tooth or two opt to not replace the teeth, but that’s a bad idea. Why? When there isn’t pressure from an adjacent tooth, the teeth on both sides of a gap tend to slide over into the gap. As you would assume, this messes up your alignment and often your bite. Also, not replacing a tooth puts extra pressure on the surrounding teeth when biting and chewing. Plus, it looks bad and can make you self-conscious.

What is a bridge?

A bridge is usually a single-piece prosthetic. It includes two crowns on the teeth on both sides of the gap, combined with a false tooth or teeth to replace the missing tooth or teeth. In the middle.

How does Dr. Egger place a traditional bridge?

Getting a bridge is a two-visit process. Still, that’s a lot easier than building the Brooklyn Bridge! During the first visit, Dr. Egger prepares the abutment teeth (the teeth on each side of the missing tooth) to receive their crowns. This involves removing enamel from all four sides and the top of the healthy teeth. This is necessary to make room for the crown. The crowns will cover both teeth all the way down to the gumline. Once the enamel has been shaved down, Dr. Egger will make impressions of your teeth. These are then sent off to the dental lab to create your bridge, which takes one to two weeks. While waiting for the bridge to be finished, Dr. Egger places a temporary bridge on your teeth.

When your bridge is finished, you return for your second appointment. Dr. Egger adjusts the fit and checks the color match with your other teeth. Once both you and he are satisfied, he cements it onto your teeth permanently.

If you’ve lost a few teeth, it’s best to support your bridge with dental implants. This adds support when too many teeth are missing in a row for the use of a traditional bridge.

Mackinaw isn’t the only bridge of note. Dr. Egger’s bridges are just as architecturally striking! Call him today at 989-773-3560 and let’s talk about filling that gap in your smile.