Dental Bridges in Greensboro, NC

Leaving a missing tooth untreated rarely stays a cosmetic issue for long. Neighboring teeth begin to shift into the open space, which can throw off your bite and lead to jaw discomfort or TMJ symptoms, and the bone and gum tissue at the site are more prone to further problems the longer the gap sits empty. A dental bridge solves this by filling the gap with a fixed, natural-looking replacement tooth, so your bite stays balanced, your surrounding teeth stay put, and you can eat, speak, and smile the way you did before.

At Locklear Dentistry, treatment is typically completed in about two visits, a first appointment to prepare the abutment teeth and take a digital scan while you wear a temporary bridge, and a second to place and adjust your custom permanent bridge once it is ready. Cost typically runs from around $2,500 to $6,000 depending on the bridge type, material, and number of teeth involved, and Dr. Locklear will walk you through your options and a clear estimate at your consultation before any treatment begins.

The right bridge for you depends on where the gap is, how many teeth are missing, and the health of the teeth around it.

A traditional bridge anchors a false tooth, called a pontic, with a crown on each of the two adjacent teeth, and it is the most common choice.

A cantilever bridge uses just one anchor tooth when there is only a single tooth next to the gap, though it is rarely used on back teeth since they bear so much chewing force.

A Maryland bridge takes a more conservative approach, bonding the pontic to the back of neighboring teeth with porcelain or metal wings instead of full crowns, preserving more natural tooth structure but holding up less well under heavy pressure.

And an implant-supported bridge anchors the false teeth to one or more dental implants surgically placed in the jawbone, offering the strongest, longest-lasting support, especially for replacing several teeth in a row.

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