Dental Bridges in Winter Haven, FL
At Winter Haven Dental in Winter Haven, FL, we try to salvage damaged teeth. If a tooth can be repaired, we’ll do our best to restore it to its natural status. It’s essential to have a dentist near you that works with dental bridges in Winter Haven, FL, too. Teeth can’t always be salvaged, and at Winter Haven Dental, we can provide several restorative options.
Dental bridges near you can be wonderful restorative options. Having a full set of teeth is important to overall health and the appearance of your smile. You shouldn’t postpone visiting a dentist in Winter Haven, FL if you have a missing tooth.
Consequences of Missing Teeth
The primary function of teeth is to help you eat. We eat to get the nutrition we need to maintain our overall health and have energy. The effect of one missing tooth on nutrition won’t be significant, but patients who have multiple missing teeth are at risk of malnutrition. Older patients are more vulnerable and need dental replacement as soon as possible.
Our teeth also play a role in speech. Additionally, our smiles are important aspects of our appearances. The problem with a missing tooth in the front of the mouth is obvious. Unfortunately, even if the missing tooth is in the back of the mouth, it can have cosmetic consequences. Our teeth adjust their positions based on the available space. When a tooth is lost, more space becomes available, and teeth can start to shift away from each other.
Dental Bridges
Dental bridges are artificial dental appliances that we can use to replace missing teeth. A bridge can replace one or more teeth as long as they’re next to each other. Unlike an implant, a bridge will need to be attached to the natural teeth on either end of the gap. These supporting teeth will have to be fitted with dental crowns.
Dental bridges can last up to 15 or 20 years. You will need to brush and floss regularly. The areas around the attachment of the bridge are important because bacteria can use them to hide. The better care you take of your dental bridge, the longer it will last.
FAQ's
A bridge restores one or more missing teeth by anchoring to crowns on adjacent teeth or to implants. The pontic occupies the empty space, helping you regain normal chewing ability, clear speech, and balanced alignment. At Winter Haven Dental, we design dental bridges in Winter Haven, FL to blend naturally with surrounding teeth.
We prepare the supporting teeth by shaping them for crowns, take impressions, and place a temporary bridge. A dental lab fabricates the final restoration, which we cement after checking the fit and bite. For implant bridges, we attach them to surgically placed implants once healing and integration are confirmed.
Bridges often last 10 years or longer with consistent hygiene and checkups. Longevity depends on supporting tooth health, gum condition, and daily care. Brushing twice daily, cleaning under the bridge with floss threaders or water flossers, and routine exams all help prevent decay or gum issues around the anchors.
Yes. Modern porcelain and zirconia bridges match your natural tooth shade, shape, and translucency. We customize color and contour for symmetry with adjacent teeth. Proper design and polishing make transitions nearly invisible, ensuring the bridge blends smoothly while maintaining comfortable chewing and natural appearance across your smile.
A bridge can replace several teeth if enough strong teeth or implants to support it. However, longer spans increase stress on anchors and may require additional reinforcement or implant placement. We use imaging to evaluate bone, bite, and spacing, ensuring the design distributes chewing forces evenly for lasting function and stability.
Use floss threaders, super floss, or a water flosser to clean under the pontic daily. Brush normally on the outer surfaces. Trapped plaque can lead to gum irritation or decay around the anchors, so consistent cleaning beneath the bridge and professional maintenance are key to keeping tissues healthy.
A bridge is supported by adjacent teeth, but an implant is anchored solely within the bone without relying on other teeth. Bridges are quicker and require reshaping nearby teeth; implants preserve bone and don’t affect neighbors. Choice depends on bone health, number of missing teeth, cost, and long-term goals after evaluation and imaging.
