Bridge the Gap in Your Smile
If you are missing one tooth or a few natural teeth in a row, you may feel self-conscious when smiling or laughing. But you don't have to hide your emotions any longer.
Dental bridges replace one, two, or three missing teeth in a row. They can be supported by healthy teeth on either side of the gap, or by implants secured to the jaw.
Here's why you should schedule a consultation at Carlin Dental—a trusted dental office serving Hendersonville, TN...
Treatment Offers 3 Main Benefits
A porcelain or zirconia dental bridge will look natural and beautiful, completing your smile and boosting your self-esteem. You could enjoy smiling and laughing, instead of worrying about how you look.
Missing teeth make it difficult to perform even the simplest tasks. Dental bridges recreate a strong and healthy bite so you can chew all kinds of foods properly, which also aids in digestion.
Just one lost tooth increases the potential for additional tooth loss. Replacing missing teeth with a dental bridge supports your overall oral health, including the retention of natural teeth.
Abby M.
I was greeted with such kindness from the entire staff! Dr.Carlin was fantastic. I'd recommend Dr.Carlin and his staff to anyone looking for a dentist. So very pleased with my experience today!
View On Google +
Anne B.
I have spent way too much time in dental chairs and it gives me a very good perspective on dentists. Dr Carlin and his crew are EXCELLENT. Professional, thorough, gentle and caring only begin the praise.
View On Google +A Closer Look at Bridges' Lasting Effects
Dr. Bryan Carlin provides bridges to not only close noticeable gaps. The procedure also rebuilds the foundation that supports an attractive facial appearance. Teeth provide underlying support for the cheeks and lips, keeping them full and youthful-looking. Furthermore, the jawbone deteriorates when teeth aren’t present, further altering the appearance of the face. We never cut corners on quality, both in the office and at the lab, Dr. Carlin also recommends zirconia bridges for an even more attractive outcome.
Besides impacting cosmetics, missing teeth also negatively affect the bite, or occlusion. The upper and lower teeth should fit together so that the bones of the jaw joints are seated in a resting position when the mouth is closed. Missing teeth leave spaces, and the remaining teeth drift toward those spaces to more evenly distribute biting forces. When teeth drift, the entire bite, meaning the fit of the upper and lower teeth, changes. This can create disharmony in the jaw, or temporomandibular joints (TMJs). As a result, TMJ disorder may develop. This condition can cause teeth grinding, jaw and neck pain, headaches, and other nagging symptoms.
Schedule a Consultation with Our Dentist
Our general, cosmetic, and restorative dentist has extensive experience placing dental bridges. At your appointment, you’ll learn about traditional and implant-retained bridges and Dr. Carlin will help you decide which type is best suited for your unique needs. Our family-oriented Hendersonville, TN, dental office is conveniently located for Nashville patients and surrounding areas.
To schedule a consultation, contact Carlin Dental online or call:
(615) 431-2723
What Is a Dental Bridge?
A conventional dental bridge is made of an artificial tooth, called a pontic, nestled between two dental crowns. If you are missing more than one tooth, multiple pontics will be used. Both your pontics and dental crowns will be carefully matched to the shade of your smile, so they will be virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth. Dr. Carlin will use a specialized dental cement to secure each crown to a healthy tooth on either side of the gap.
At our dental office serving Hendersonville, TN, and Nashville, we also offer implant-supported bridges, which are affixed to dental implants. Each restoration consists of a biocompatible post and a connector called an abutment. Your bridge will attach directly to abutments on the implant posts embedded in your jawbone. This option provides optimal support, as well as longevity. In addition, implants help to preserve a dense, healthy jawbone.
Bridges & Full Mouth Restoration
For many patients at our Hendersonville, TN, office, dental bridges are a part of full mouth restoration treatment plans. Those who have multiple dental issues, like tooth loss, decay, fractures, and worn tooth enamel, a comprehensive treatment plan is necessary to fully restore good oral health. Dr. Carlin may prescribe a traditional bridge, in combination with other treatments, to re-establish proper occlusion and good oral health. Other procedures commonly used in full mouth restoration include dental implants, dentures, crowns, fillings, gum or bone grafts, and in some cases, cosmetic procedures are advised for the best aesthetics.
Are You a Good Candidate for a Dental Bridge?
You are generally a good candidate if you are missing a single tooth or up to three teeth in a row. In some cases, patients first require extractions.
For traditional restorations, you have healthy, structurally sound teeth on either side of the gap to support crowns that will secure the bridge.
Conversely, you have healthy bone tissue where implants can be placed to retain the bridge (or patients may undergo a bone graft).
Bridges are recommended for patients who do not need a full denture, which is designed to restore an entire dental arch of missing teeth.
You have good oral health and are free of decay and gum disease. If needed, we can first treat these underlying concerns at our office.
You have good general health. For example, you are not undergoing chemotherapy and your blood sugar is stable.
Overcoming Limitations
Most obstacles that could prevent a patient from being a good candidate for a dental bridge can be overcome. For instance, if you have gum disease, treatment will improve your candidacy and provide a strong and stable foundation for a bridge.
Along the same lines, the jawbone deterioration that naturally results from tooth loss can make a patient ineligible for an implant-secured bridge. However, this concern may be overcome by performing a bone graft. Once the graft has fused with the jaw, the bone becomes denser and dental implant placement can be performed. Thanks to the wide variety of treatments to restore your gums, teeth, and jaws available at our office serving Hendersonville, TN, and Nashville, most patients can improve their candidacy with Dr. Carlin's help.
The Treatment Process
Planning & Preparation
If you choose a traditional bridge, Dr. Carlin will begin by preparing each tooth next to the gap. He will remove some enamel to accommodate the restoration. We will then take impressions, which will be sent to a trusted offsite lab.
Fabrication
Technicians will carefully craft your custom restoration, usually two crowns with a pontic between, taking into account the shape and size of your teeth as well as their shade. While you wait for about two weeks, we can provide you with a temporary.
Implant Surgery
If you prefer an implant-supported bridge, you will first have to undergo minor implant placement surgery and wait three to six months for the implants to fuse with your jawbone. Once you have fully healed, you can be fitted for your permanent dental bridge.
Determining Your Treatment Cost
When it comes to dental restorations, like most things in life, you can expect to get what you pay for. Each tooth in a dental bridge can be made with porcelain (ceramic) or zirconia. The crowns on your restoration may be made with those materials or with porcelain over a metal base, called PFM. The quality of dental ceramic, zirconia, cement, and implants varies, as does the quality of the restorations themselves. Costs will also differ based on a dentist's experience, among other factors.
A dental bridge generally costs between $3,300 and $5,500 at our practice.
Our Commitment to Quality
Our dental office serving Hendersonville, TN uses the latest techniques and materials because Dr. Carlin and our team strongly believe in providing patients with the best that modern dentistry can offer.
We stand behind our work and only make recommendations that we would provide to members of our own family. Carlin Dental also uses a respected and trusted dental lab, where experienced technicians handcraft custom restorations.
Financing Options
We don't believe concerns over costs should keep any patient from enjoying excellent oral health and a fantastic smile. While insurance often covers at least part of the cost of a dental bridge, you may want to explore financing options, especially if you want to invest in dental implants or cosmetic procedures, such as teeth whitening before your bridge is placed.
For no or low-interest financing, we partner with CareCredit®, a trusted third-party institution that provides short and long-term payment options for dental procedures, whether you need a denture, implants, or a bridge. We also accept all major credit cards.
Bridgette D.
July 12, 2018
Dr Carlin and his staff are great. I have been going here for 18 years and always get the best care. Very helpful for keeping great dental care for myself.
View On Facebook
Brent S.
April 7, 2016
Dr. Carlin is the best dentist in middle TN! His staff Jillian and Ginny were so kind and very proficient at their job. Dr Carlins office is the best around!
View On Facebook
