4555 William Penn Hwy • Bethlehem, PA 18020 • 610-866-0552

Fixed Dental Bridges

A Long Term Solution for a Lifetime Smile - Dental Bridge at our Bethlehem - Lehigh Valley Dentist's Office

When teeth are lost due to accidents, injury, or gum disease, we often recommend a special permanent dental bridge appliance to replace the missing teeth. This dental bridge not only fills in the missing space, thereby preventing the remaining teeth from shifting around, but it also corrects an altered bite, improves chewing ability and speech articulation, and supports facial muscles to preserve your normal appearance. Typically, at our Bethlehem and Lehigh Valley office, we fix dental bridges permanently onto the neighboring or abutment teeth with dental cement.

Position Possibilities

Most dental bridges consist of three basic units: the artificial tooth or teeth ( the pontic) and two permanently attached crowns placed atop the neighboring (abutment teeth).

A toothless span lacking a posterior abutment tooth cannot be bridged using traditional fixed bridgework. Instead, either bridgework cemented to implant abutments, or individual single unit implants are used to replace the missing teeth. Partial dental dentures can also be used to restore gaps lacking a posterior tooth.

Placement Procedure

Bridge placement and fitting is a process traditionally involving three steps. First, Dr. Goldstein will reduce your adjacent abutment teeth, preparing them to serve as bridge anchors. Next, he will take a careful impression of your mouth, from which our laboratory will design your framework and pontic. During the second appointment, we will carefully fit the newly fabricated, custom-fit bridge over your teeth.  We will spend time showing you the correct techniques of home care of your new bridge so that you can expect many years of use.

back to library

Home | About Us | Patient Services | Photo Gallery | Patient Library | FAQs | Contact Us