
Dental Bridges in Encino, CA
Missing teeth can affect the way you speak, eat, and smile—but dental bridges offer a reliable way to fix that. A bridge fills the space left by missing teeth, helping restore your bite, improve your appearance, and keep nearby teeth from shifting.
Dental bridges are custom-made to match the shape and color of your natural teeth, so they look and feel just right. Whether you're replacing one tooth or several, this solution helps bring back both comfort and confidence to your daily life.
How Dental Bridges Work
A dental bridge is a restoration made up of one or more artificial teeth, known as pontics, which are supported by the natural teeth or dental implants on either side of the gap. Each bridge is precisely crafted to look and feel natural while restoring the strength and function of your bite. In addition to improving your ability to chew and speak, a bridge prevents surrounding teeth from shifting and helps preserve your facial structure for a balanced, healthy appearance.
Types of Dental Bridges
Depending on your dental situation, your dentist may suggest one of several bridge types:
1. Traditional Bridge
2. Cantilever Bridge
3. Maryland Bridge
Traditional Bridge
This is the most common style. It involves placing crowns on the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth, which serve as anchors to hold the artificial tooth securely in place. It’s a durable choice for those with healthy supporting teeth on both sides of the gap.
Cantilever Bridge
Ideal when there’s only one natural tooth beside the empty space. The bridge is supported by a single adjacent tooth, rather than two, making it useful in limited spaces.
Maryland Bridge
Instead of crowns, this bridge uses a metal or porcelain framework attached to the back surfaces of the neighboring teeth. It requires minimal alteration of those teeth and offers a more conservative approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re missing one or more teeth and want to restore both function and appearance, a dental bridge is an excellent choice. Missing teeth can affect your ability to chew and speak and may cause surrounding teeth to shift out of place. A bridge fills those gaps, keeps your bite aligned, and helps maintain your facial structure. Your dentist can help determine if this is the best solution for you.
Dental bridges provide several important benefits, including:
- Restoring proper chewing and speech function
- Improving the look of your smile
- Preventing neighboring teeth from drifting out of position
- Supporting your natural facial shape
- Offering a durable and long-term tooth replacement option
With the right care and regular dental visits, a bridge can keep your smile strong, balanced, and beautiful for years.
