Fixed BRIDGES in New York / NYC

At Luxury Dentistry NYC, Drs. Gary and Steven Davidowitz bring more than three decades of father-and-son dental expertise to help you design and achieve the smile you've always wanted. If you have missing teeth that you would like to replace, you have come to the right place. Among your many options for rebuilding your smile is a "dental bridge" to replace the teeth.

What is a bridge?

A bridge is a structure placed over a portion of your teeth to replace a missing tooth or teeth.

Natural look and feel

With a bridge, your replacement teeth will essentially look like your real teeth, and you will be able to eat as naturally and comfortably as you once did with your real teeth. In the case of bridges placed near the front of your mouth, the procedure can also significantly improve your smile.

Dental bridge procedure

Just as a bridge over a river requires supports at both ends, a bridge in your mouth relies on the use of healthy teeth on either side of a gap to serve as supports for the bridge. To prepare the supports, the dentist will first pare down the teeth on either side of the gap, removing the natural enamel of the teeth. In order to protect the pared teeth and minimize sensitivity, the dentist will install a temporary bridge made of acrylic that will allow you to eat normally and will also look natural.

In the meantime, the dentist will take an impression of the pared teeth and send it to a technician to create the bridge. The bridge consists of two replacement crowns that are joined to an artificial tooth in between to serve as the replacement for the missing tooth. The replacement crowns are made with caps of metal or porcelain, or a blend of both, while the artificial tooth is called a pontic and can also be made from gold, porcelain, alloys or any blend of these materials. Once the bridge has been completed, the dentist will place the two crowns over the pared teeth and cement the bridge in place.

Though every case will vary, multiple visits may be required to ensure the bridge fits and is comfortable for your bite. The dentist may cement the bridge in place temporarily, allowing you to try it out for a couple weeks. Once the fit has been properly assessed, the bridge will be permanently cemented into place.

Post-treatment care

It is common for patients to not need any pain relievers after their bridge is installed. Some have reported sensitivity to heat and cold after the cementing of the bridge; however, this is usually temporary. With regular checkups and good hygiene, such as regular brushing and flossing, fixed bridges can last for many years -- anywhere between five and 15 years, or longer.

Finding out more about bridges

If you think your smile could benefit from a bridge procedure, call us today at 212-759-7535 to set up a free consultation with Drs. Davidowitz. Luxury Dentistry is located in New York City but regularly welcomes patients from all over the world who seek our specialized expertise in cosmetic dentistry. Drs. Davidowitz will be happy to answer your questions and help you get on your way to a beautiful smile.