What is a Dental Bridge?

Patients with missing or damaged teeth can count on South Carthay’s Dr. Suzanne Haeri to provide them with replacements. One of the oldest solutions in dentistry for replacing compromised teeth is the dental bridge, which is why we want our patients to understand more about it.

A dental bridge is a series of artificial crowns which are connected to each other. They are constructed in a dental laboratory based on an impression of the patient’s mouth. A pontic bridge is one which rests on two natural teeth as its base. Each tooth has been reshaped in order to support an artificial crown, and an additional artificial crown is suspended between them. Bridges are also made in the form of partial dentures, or they may be supported by implants. Although it is discouraged for patients to have healthy teeth reshaped, bridges are a popular option when there are several teeth in a row which require new crowns or are missing and need to be replaced. The teeth used to support a fixed bridge may need to undergo a root canal prior to being reshaped if they have been damaged by infection.

Suzanne Haeri, DDS, is located at 1100 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90035. To set up an appointment, call 310-647-2200 or visit Suzanne Haeri DDS and fill out a request.

 

Cleaning Fixed Bridges

As part of our commitment to preventive care, we at Dr. Suzanne Haeri’s South Carthay dental office educate our patients about maintaining their oral hygiene after receiving replacement teeth. Cleaning a fixed bridge is easy, but it requires a few changes in habit and knowledge of the dental products available.

Implant-secured bridges may have enough room between the bridge and the gum line for a proxy brush. This Christmas tree-shaped brush can be mounted on a normal-sized toothbrush handle and be used to dislodge large pieces of food. However, all bridges must be flossed along their horizontal side and the teeth they attach to must be kept clean on all sides, as well. While some floss manufacturers make specialty floss with stiffened tips to push through the bridge gap, it is normal for patients to use a threader to loop floss around a bridge. Threaders are used by patients with braces to draw floss like a needle draws thread, and the same principle applies to bridges. The devices are cheap and reusable.

Suzanne Haeri, DDS, is located at 1100 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90035. To set up an appointment, call 310-647-2200 or visit SuzanneHaeriDDS.com and fill out a request.