Dental Bridges Services Offered in Bayside, NY
If you’re missing a tooth, chewing becomes uneven, nearby teeth can shift out of place, and everyday tasks like eating or speaking clearly can start to feel more difficult than they should, affecting more than just your smile’s appearance. Fortunately, with dental bridges, this does not have to be your new normal.
At Bayside Dental Arts, we help patients throughout Queens, Brooklyn, and Western Long Island close these gaps with dental bridges built to look and function like natural teeth.
Dental Crowns
If a bridge is not the right fit for your situation, we also offer dental crowns as another way to restore damaged or missing teeth.
What Is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is a fixed restoration that fills the space left by one or more missing teeth. Instead of removing an existing prosthetic to eat or clean your mouth, a bridge stays anchored in place, giving you a stable, permanent solution.
Most bridges rely on the teeth next to the gap, known as abutment teeth, for support. A false tooth, called a pontic, sits between two crowns that fit over the abutment teeth on either side. Once set, the bridge blends in with your surrounding teeth and helps restore a full, even bite.
Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Missing Teeth
Tooth loss affects more than appearance. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tooth loss can lead to a poor diet, low self-esteem, difficulty speaking, and a lowered overall quality of life.
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Poor diet
Chewing becomes uneven when a tooth is missing.
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Low self-esteem
A gap can leave you with a smile you feel unsure about.
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Difficulty speaking
Speaking clearly can start to feel more difficult than it should.
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Lowered quality of life
Everyday tasks like eating can start to feel harder than they should.
Left unaddressed, a gap can also place extra strain on neighboring teeth as they shift to compensate for the missing space. This shifting can gradually change the way your teeth line up and make your bite feel uneven over time. We understand dealing with a missing tooth can feel overwhelming, but the good news is a bridge is a well-established, comfortable way to solve the problem.
Types of Dental Bridges We Offer
Not every patient needs the same type of bridge, and the right option depends on how many teeth are missing, the condition of the surrounding teeth, and your personal goals for your smile. A few common types include the following:
- Traditional bridges. Use crowns on both neighboring teeth to support the pontic in the middle
- Cantilever bridges. Anchor to only one neighboring tooth when there is not a tooth on both sides of the gap
- Implant-supported bridges. Attach to dental implants instead of natural teeth for added stability
Once we assess your smile and discuss your goals, we can walk you through which type may work best for your situation. Call (718) 684-9465
What to Expect When Getting a Dental Bridge
Getting a bridge typically takes place over two visits.
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Visit 1
Preparing the Teeth
We prepare the abutment teeth by removing a small amount of enamel so the crowns can fit properly.
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Visit 1
Impression
We take an impression that will be used to design your custom bridge.
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Visit 1
Temporary Bridge
A temporary bridge is placed to protect your teeth and gums while the permanent one is being made in a dental lab.
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Visit 2
Final Placement
We remove the temporary bridge and check the fit, bite, and appearance of the permanent bridge before cementing it into place.
Most patients find the process straightforward, and any mild sensitivity typically fades within a few days as you adjust to the new bridge. Local anesthesia is used throughout treatment to keep you comfortable at every step.
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2 visits
Typically needed to complete treatment
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A few days
Typical time for any mild sensitivity to fade
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10+ years
How long most patients keep their bridge functioning well with consistent care
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Local anesthesia
Used throughout treatment to keep you comfortable
How to Care for Your Dental Bridge
A dental bridge can last many years with the right care. Brushing twice daily and flossing under the pontic with a floss threader or water flosser helps prevent decay and gum irritation around the bridge.
Do
- Brush twice daily
- Floss under the pontic with a floss threader or water flosser
- Keep up with routine dental visits
Avoid
- Hard foods like ice
- Hard candy
Routine dental visits also allow us to check that the bridge remains secure and the surrounding teeth stay healthy. Avoiding hard foods like ice or hard candy can help protect the bridge from unnecessary wear, and with consistent care, most patients keep their bridge functioning well for a decade or longer.
Other Options to Replace Missing Teeth
A bridge is not the only way to replace a missing tooth, and the right choice depends on how many teeth are involved and the condition of your jawbone. Patients missing several teeth may find dental implants offer a longer-term solution anchored directly into the jaw.
- Dental bridge. Fills the space left by one or more missing teeth
- Dental implants. A longer-term solution anchored directly into the jaw
- All-on-4 implants. Replace a full row of teeth using just four implant posts
Patients missing an entire arch sometimes ask about All-on-4 implants as well, which replace a full row of teeth using just four implant posts. Each option comes with its own benefits, from cost and treatment time to how the final result feels day to day. We can walk you through the differences during a visit so you feel confident in the option that fits your needs and your budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will My Bridge Feel Different From My Natural Teeth
Most patients adjust within a week or two. Your bridge is custom fitted to your bite, so eating and speaking should feel close to normal once you are used to it.
How Long Do Dental Bridges Last
A 2023 review of clinical studies for the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health found bridges have an estimated lifespan of about 10 years with proper care, with survival rates reported around 90 percent at the 5 year mark (NIH).
Do I Need the Tooth Removed Before Getting a Bridge
Only if the damaged tooth cannot be saved. Dr. Ilyabayev always looks for ways to preserve a tooth first, and if an extraction is unavoidable, a bridge or implant can be planned as part of the same treatment plan.
What Happens If I Do Not Replace a Missing Tooth
Neighboring teeth can tilt into the empty space, your bite can shift, and the jawbone beneath the gap can gradually lose density, all of which can make future treatment more involved the longer you wait.
Does Insurance Cover Dental Bridges
Most PPO dental plans cover at least a portion of a bridge, especially when it replaces a tooth lost to decay or injury. Bayside Dental Arts accepts PPO insurance and can help verify your benefits beforehand.
Restore Your Smile with a Dental Bridge from Bayside Dental Arts
A missing tooth does not have to mean living with discomfort or a smile you feel unsure about. Dr. Andrey Ilyabayev brings extensive experience in restorative and cosmetic dentistry to every bridge placed at our practice, using a careful, detail-focused approach designed to make your new tooth look and feel like your own.
Our team can help you find the option that fits your smile and your budget, no matter how many teeth need replacing. To find out if a dental bridge is right for you, contact our office to schedule a visit.
Bayside Dental Arts
213-07 Northern Blvd
Bayside, NY 11361
| Monday | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
