Dental Bridges
Filling the gap, restoring your bite.
A missing tooth does more than change how your smile looks. The teeth next to the gap can tilt or drift over time, your bite can shift out of alignment, and the jawbone underneath can start to shrink without a tooth root to keep it stimulated.
At Bayside Dental Arts, Dr. Andrey Ilyabayev fits custom dental bridges that fill the gap with a fixed, natural-looking replacement anchored to the teeth on either side. For some patients, dental implants are a better long-term fit instead, since an implant replaces the tooth root directly rather than relying on neighboring teeth for support. Your dentist can help you weigh both options at your consultation.
What Is a Dental Bridge
A dental bridge is a fixed replacement tooth, called a pontic, held in place by crowns on the natural teeth on either side of the gap, known as abutment teeth. Once cemented, a bridge functions and feels like your natural teeth, and unlike a denture, it is not removed for cleaning or sleeping.
Types of Dental Bridges
The Bridge Process
Caring for Your Bridge
A bridge is brushed and flossed like your natural teeth, though the area underneath the replacement tooth needs extra attention. Floss threaders, a water flosser, or a small interdental brush can clean beneath the pontic where a regular floss strand cannot reach. Avoiding hard or sticky foods and keeping up with regular cleanings both help a bridge last as long as possible.
A bridge works best for one or a few missing teeth in a row. If you are missing many teeth or an entire arch, dentures or an implant-supported option may serve you better. Dr. Ilyabayev can go over which approach fits your situation at your consultation.
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.
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.
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.
Close the Gap for Good
Dr. Andrey Ilyabayev and our dental team have fitted custom bridges and implants for patients throughout Bayside, Queens, Brooklyn, and Long Island for years, and we can help you decide which option fits your smile best.
