6100 W. 41st St. Sioux Falls, SD 57106
Restoring Your Smile with Custom Dental Bridges
Missing even a single tooth can affect far more than your appearance. It can make chewing difficult, cause remaining teeth to shift out of position, and gradually alter the way your bite fits together. At Designer Dentistry & Smiles, we provide custom dental bridges for patients throughout Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, Brandon, Harrisburg, and Tea, offering a reliable way to fill the gap left behind by one or more missing teeth.
A dental bridge works by anchoring a replacement tooth, or teeth, to the natural teeth or implants on either side of the gap, creating a stable, functional, and natural-looking result. Our team takes the time to evaluate your bite, jaw structure, and overall oral health to design a bridge that fits comfortably and blends seamlessly with your smile.
Schedule a Bridge Consultation
Benefits of Replacing a Missing Tooth
Choosing to replace a missing tooth with a bridge offers benefits that extend well beyond aesthetics.
- Restores Your Ability to Chew Comfortably - A bridge fills the gap so you can bite and chew without difficulty or discomfort.
- Prevents Shifting Teeth - Neighboring teeth can gradually drift into an empty space over time, leading to bite problems. A bridge holds your smile in proper alignment.
- Maintains Facial Structure - Missing teeth can eventually affect the shape of your face and jaw. A bridge helps preserve your natural facial support.
- Improves Speech - Gaps from missing teeth can affect pronunciation. A bridge restores a complete set of teeth for clearer speech.
- Brings Back Your Confidence - A seamless, natural-looking bridge allows you to smile, laugh, and speak without feeling self-conscious.
Ideal Candidates for Dental Bridge
Most patients with one or more missing teeth are good candidates for a bridge, provided the surrounding teeth are healthy enough to support it. During your consultation, the dentist will evaluate the condition of the teeth adjacent to the gap, along with your gum health and bone structure, to determine whether a traditional bridge, an implant-supported bridge, or another restorative option is the best fit for your needs.
The Process of Getting Your Dental Bridge
Placing a dental bridge typically involves a couple of appointments to ensure a precise, comfortable fit.
Initial Consultation and Planning
We examine the area, take digital X-rays, and discuss which type of bridge best suits your situation. This evaluation also helps us assess the health of your supporting teeth and gums before moving forward.
Preparing the Abutment Teeth
The teeth on either side of the gap are reshaped slightly to accommodate the crowns that will anchor your bridge. We carefully prepare these teeth to create enough space for a secure restoration while preserving healthy tooth structure whenever possible.
Taking Impressions
Detailed impressions or digital scans are taken to ensure your bridge is custom-fitted to your bite. These records help create a restoration that aligns properly with your surrounding teeth and feels natural when you bite and chew.
Wearing a Temporary Bridge
While your permanent bridge is being crafted, a temporary bridge protects the prepared teeth and maintains function. We will also provide instructions for eating, brushing, and caring for the temporary restoration during this period.
Placing Your Permanent Bridge
Once ready, your custom bridge is checked for fit and bite alignment, then permanently bonded into place. The dentist will make any necessary adjustments and review how to care for your new bridge to help maintain it over the long term.
Types of Dental Bridges We Offer
Not every patient's situation calls for the same type of bridge. Depending on your oral health and the location of the missing tooth, we may recommend:
Traditional Bridges
Anchored by crowns placed on the natural teeth on either side of the gap, this is the most common type of bridge.Implant-Supported Bridges
Anchored by dental implants rather than natural teeth, this option is ideal for patients missing multiple teeth in a row or wanting to avoid altering healthy adjacent teeth.Cantilever Bridges
Used when there is only one adjacent tooth available to support the bridge, typically in less visible areas of the mouth.Don't Let a Gap Change Your Smile
A missing tooth will not resolve on its own, and waiting too long to replace it can lead to shifting teeth, bite problems, and more complex treatment later. Our Designer Dentistry & Smiles in Sioux Falls, SD, is here to help you explore your options and restore your smile with a bridge built to last.
