Dental bridges can be the perfect solution for restoring a smile in people who have multiple teeth missing or a single missing tooth. The dental bridge cost is more affordable than other options, making it a popular choice for replacing missing teeth. You’re located in Brooklyn, NY dentist Dr. Ella Dekhtyar at Broadway Family Dental is both a family dentist and a cosmetic dentist and can help explain the benefits of a dental bridge vs. implant.
Dental bridges are covered by the majority of PPO insurance plans at our Bushwick dental clinic, including Aetna, Cigna, Delta Dental, Guardian, Metlife, United HealthCare, Straight Medicaid, and Fidelis. Our dental team accepts government insurance plans like Medicaid, Healthfirst and Fidelis. You can explore the full list of insurance providers we work with at our Bushwick, Brooklyn dentistry center.
What Is a Dental Bridge?
If you’re having issues with spaces or gaps in your smile, your dentist at the cosmetic dentistry clinic can close – or bridge – the gaps with dental bridges. Your family dentist has the tools, skills, and options to give you back your smile. A tooth bridge isn’t only done for cosmetic purposes. Missing teeth can affect biting, chewing, and even speaking, and a dental bridge is a simple and time-tested solution. Dental bridging is a procedure that eliminates the space between your teeth by placing a literal bridge of fake teeth over it.
Like a Real Bridge, Only for Your Teeth
A bridge is made up of crowns and false teeth. The crowns are placed over the adjacent teeth, called abutments, and the false teeth, or pontics, are placed in the gap between them. The anchoring teeth can be real teeth or implants.
The pontics are made of gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of the three. The types of dental bridges are sometimes differentiated based on the material used. Otherwise, it’s based on the location or specific procedure used to place the bridge.
The most common reason you need bridge dental work is to fill the space of a missing tooth.
The reasons for losing a tooth or having it removed include:
- Infection
- Tooth decay
- Trauma
- Gum disease
- Crowded teeth
Why to Consider Dental Bridges
Your teeth, mouth, gums and tongue work together as a unit for eating and speaking. When teeth are missing, the gaps affect your bite and your speech. You may also find that your face changes shape as teeth move or your jawbone becomes weaker.
Dental bridges fix a number of dental issues, including:
- Keeping your remaining teeth in proper alignment to maintain your optimal speech and appearance
- Restoring the best bite and chewing positions as your teeth properly line up
- Distributing the force of your bite correctly across all your teeth to avoid improper wear-and-tear of your remaining teeth
- Helping you keep a more youthful look for your face, as opposed to the more aged and gaunt appearance that occurs when teeth are missing
- Returning your smile to a more pleasant, symmetrical appearance
Read more: 5 Things To Know Before Considering a Dental Bridge
Patient Experience
Google ReviewsThe front desk is attentive and friendly, the hygienist is thorough and Dr. Ella really knows her stuff. I have always felt comfortable with all procedures here. I go here for bi-annual check-ups but have also had a pain-free root canal and a beautiful bridge-crown placed. One stop shop without the lengthy waiting times that are a bit too common at many dentists. The facility is clean and feels professional, as it should.
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Dental Bridge vs Implant
You can fill the space created by a missing tooth with a dental bridge or an implant. An implant is a fake tooth that fills the gap. The main difference is that it isn’t attached to any other teeth. It’s rooted into your jaw by a titanium post and covered by a dental crown.
This process takes time and requires surgery, but the choice between a dental bridge vs implant depends on many things — the reason you need it, your medical history, and affordability. Your dentist discusses the options with you before recommending the best option.
Different Types of Bridges
There are three types of dental bridges that your dentist may suggest. The choice of bridge types depends on where the missing tooth is located and what type of material you want in your mouth.
The three most common types of bridges are:
- Traditional Fixed Bridge consists of a filler tooth or teeth supported by crowns that are placed over the healthy teeth on each side of the gap. This is the most common type of tooth bridge and can only be used when you have healthy natural teeth on both sides surrounding the gap of your missing tooth.
- Cantilever Bridge is utilized when you only have one natural tooth next to the missing tooth gap where the pontic can be fixed. It can also be used if the front tooth is on one side of the missing tooth to avoid reshaping it for aesthetic reasons. Due to the off-axis forces involved with this tooth bridge, it requires careful planning by your dentist to reduce the risk of destabilizing the abutment tooth.
- Maryland bridges (also called resin-bonded bridges) are commonly used to replace front teeth. Similar to a fixed bridge, Maryland bonded bridges use two natural abutment teeth on each side of the gap. However, instead of using dental crowns for placement, they utilize a framework of either metal or porcelain that is fixed behind the adjacent teeth. This is the most affordable dental bridge because it doesn’t require reshaping and crown placement.
No matter which type of bridge is right for you, the best dentist in Bushwick, Brooklyn is experienced and affordable. Dr. Ella Dekhtyar and her team of skilled professionals can answer all your questions and help you regain a healthy smile.
Dental Bridge Procedure
The whole process takes a few visits, but it’s not as long as getting a dental implant. On your first visit, the abutment teeth are prepared, which means they’re recontoured to accommodate a crown. After a mold is made of your teeth and gap, you’re given a temporary bridge until the second visit. Then, the temporary bridge is removed and the new permanent bridge is placed and adjusted. You may need several visits to get the correct fit, but once perfect, the bridge is cemented in place.
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How Much Does a Dental Bridge Cost?
The dental bridge cost in Brooklyn, NY can vary significantly, typically ranging from $2,500 to $6,000 or
more. However, Broadway Family Dental offers prices that are lower than the average in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
Here is a more detailed information about factors affecting dental bridge cost at Broadway Family Dental:
Type of Bridge
- A traditional bridge is the most common and affordable type involving crowns on adjacent teeth to support a bridge. Their cost may vary, typically ranging from $800-1400 per tooth.
- A Cantilever bridge cost typically ranges from $2,000 to $5,000 per unit. The price can vary depending on factors such as the materials used, the complexity of the procedure, and whether any additional dental work is required.
- Maryland bridge uses a thin metal framework bonded to the back of adjacent teeth. The cost typically ranges from $1,000 to $2,300.
- The cost of an implant-supported bridge in Brooklyn can vary widely, typically ranging from $4,000 to $16,000. The exact price depends on factors such as the number of implants needed, the materials used, and the complexity of the procedure
Number of Teeth Replaced
More teeth typically require more materials, which can increase the cost. Also, dental labs charge based on the number of teeth being fabricated, so more teeth mean higher lab fees.
Materials
he materials used for the bridge, such as porcelain or metal, can affect the price. High-quality materials like porcelain or zirconia are more expensive than metal alloys.
Complexity of the Case
If additional treatments like bone grafting or gum treatment are needed to support the bridge, this can also increase the overall cost.
Dentist’s Fees
- Experience and Expertise: Dentists with more experience or specialized training in cosmetic dentistry often charge higher fees.
- Geographical Location: The cost of living and overhead expenses in the area where the dentist practices can affect fees. Urban areas and major cities tend to have higher costs compared to rural or suburban areas.
- Clinic Facilities: Advanced technology and state-of-the-art facilities can increase the overall cost of the procedure.
- Complexity of the Case: More complex cases that require additional procedures, such as fillings or root canals, can increase the total cost.
- Materials Used: The type of materials chosen for the bridge, such as zirconia or porcelain, can also impact the cost.
Our skilled Brooklyn dentists can help you choose the most affordable dental bridge option that can help restore your smile and boost your tooth strength.
Does Insurance Cover Dental Bridges?
Most dental insurance plans cover 50% to 80% of the total cost. Keep in mind that many dental insurance plans have annual maximums, typically between $1,000 and $1,500, which can affect how much of the bridge cost is covered.
Read more: Difference Between Veneers and Crowns
How Long Does a Dental Bridge Last?
With proper care and good oral hygiene, a bridge can last longer than 10 years. Brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash — plus regular check-ups — can make it last up to 15 years.
Benefits of a Tooth Bridge
The benefits of dental bridging far outweigh the tooth bridge cost. When considering a dental bridge vs implant, the bridge is more affordable than an implant and doesn’t require surgery. It’s a simpler procedure and looks great. Your natural teeth surrounding the gap do have to be altered, but having a tooth bridge improves the form and function of your mouth.
A dental bridge restores your smile and your ability to eat and speak properly. Your dedicated family dentist at Broadway Family Dental in Brooklyn can give you back your smile and your confidence. Don’t wait! Сheck out our latest promotions today!
Looking After a Dental Bridge
It’s crucial to look after your bridge correctly, making sure you brush it thoroughly twice a day, and you need to clean under the replacement tooth each day. Your dentist can show you how to use special tools or special types of floss to reach under these replacement teeth. This will help ensure that your natural teeth supporting the bridge remain strong and healthy and that your gums remain free from infection and disease.
Finding Dental Bridges Near Me
When looking for a way to effectively restore single or multiple missing teeth, choose a general dentist specializing in the treatment of edentulous with dental bridges while also preventing disorders of remaining teeth, other structures, and functions of the dental-maxillary system.
Locate a dental practice providing dental bridges near you using the most common types of bridgework techniques, including traditional fixed, cantilever, and Maryland bridges. Dr. Ella Dekhtyar offers a simple and time-tested solution for recovering missing teeth, placing particular emphasis on establishing a functional equilibrium between the teeth, as well as adequately supporting tissues, the neuromuscular system, and the temporomandibular joint.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Clean Under a Dental Bridge?
Dental floss for bridges can help you maintain oral hygiene. It has an extra-thick brush segment that cleans hard-to-reach areas of bridges. You should gently move the floss between the gum line and the base of the bridgework. In a careful back-and-forth motion, remove plaque under artificial teeth. Wrap the spongy floss around the natural teeth and use up and down motion to clean the adjoining teeth.
What to Do if My Dental Bridge Feels Weird?
Teeth sensitivity is to be expected after the bridge placement. To prevent uncomfortable sensations, avoid hot and cold foods for a few days following treatment. You can use toothpaste for sensitive teeth to protect your enamel. In about two weeks, you will adjust to a new artificial bridge and strange sensations won’t bother you. However, severe long-term pain may be one of the dental bridge infection symptoms. If you experience such pain, don’t delay your visit to the doctor and seek help immediately.
What is a Cheaper Alternative to a Dental Bridge?
Partial dentures are generally more affordable than dental bridges. However, they require special care and must be taken out at night. These removable devices can replace several missing teeth.
How Should a Dental Bridge Fit?
The bridgework should fit snugly against the gumline and feel nearly as comfortable as your natural teeth. Loose dental bridges leave spaces that can clog up with food particles or tartar. Bacteria accumulation can lead to bad breath, gum disease, and various health issues. To make the fit correct, your dentist can adjust the bridge or completely remake it with a new mold.
Do you have any questions for Dr. Ella Dekhtyar regarding dental bridge cost? Would you like to schedule an appointment with the top aesthetic dentist, Dr. Dekhtyar of Broadway Family and Cosmetic Dentistry? Please contact our office for a consultation.
Dr. Ella Dekhtyar is an ABGD-certified cosmetic and family dentist who strives to provide the best and most appropriate dental care using the latest cutting-edge technology and treatment. Dr. Dekhtyar has more than 20 years of experience creating beautiful and healthy smiles, backed by receiving multiple awards, including America’s Best Dentist and New York Magazine Best Dentists in 2010 & 2012, and her collaboration with prominent media outlets.
Recognized as one of the most highly regarded dentists in the Bushwick and Bedford-Stuyvesant community, Dr. Dekhtyar operates in several languages, including English, Spanish, as well as Russian, and provides highly praised aesthetic and functional results in a welcoming and relaxing environment.
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