Dental Bridges at Southwest Dental Group in Orland Park IL

Missing teeth can significantly impact your daily comfort, making eating and speaking more challenging while affecting your confidence. Dental bridges offer a proven, reliable solution to fill those gaps with secure, natural-looking tooth replacements. At Southwest Dental Group, we carefully craft each bridge to match your existing teeth in color, shape, and function, helping you maintain proper chewing ability, healthy tooth alignment, and a complete smile.

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How Dental Bridges Replace Missing Teeth and Restore Function

Dental bridges fill the empty space created when one or more teeth are lost due to decay, injury, or extraction. Missing even a single tooth can create significant problems—it becomes difficult to chew certain foods properly, speak clearly, or keep neighboring teeth positioned correctly. A dental bridge solves these issues by placing artificial teeth in the gap and anchoring them securely using support from adjacent natural teeth or dental implants.

When a tooth is missing, the surrounding teeth naturally drift into the vacant space over time. This gradual movement can lead to bite misalignment, uneven tooth wear, and jaw joint discomfort. A properly fitted dental bridge prevents this unwanted shifting by maintaining correct spacing and alignment. It distributes chewing forces evenly across your dental arch, supporting normal, comfortable function during meals.

Many patients find that dental bridges restore their ability to speak clearly and confidently. Certain sounds become difficult to pronounce when front teeth are missing. Filling these gaps helps your tongue and lips move naturally again, improving speech clarity. Because bridges are custom-designed to match your natural teeth in color, size, and shape, they blend seamlessly into your smile.

Missing teeth also create uneven pressure distribution when you chew, which can strain your jaw joint and place excessive stress on remaining teeth. A dental bridge spreads biting forces more evenly, helping protect both your jaw and natural teeth from premature wear. With proper care and regular dental checkups, quality dental bridges can last ten to fifteen years or longer.

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Different Types of Dental Bridges

There are several types of dental bridges, each suited for specific situations:

• Traditional Fixed Bridges: These consist of artificial teeth held by crowns on adjacent teeth, effectively replacing one to three consecutive missing teeth.
• Cantilever Bridges: Used when natural teeth are present on one side of the gap; suitable for less-stress areas, like front teeth.
• Maryland Bonded Bridges: A conservative option for front teeth, using a framework with wings that bond to neighboring teeth, preserving more natural structure.
• Implant-Supported Bridges: The most advanced option, anchored to dental implants in the jawbone, offering longevity and helping maintain jawbone density.

Your dentist can help determine the best option based on your needs and budget.

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The Bridge Placement Process

Receiving a dental bridge typically involves multiple appointments scheduled over several weeks, ensuring your bridge fits precisely and functions comfortably.

• Initial Consultation: During your first visit, your dentist performs a thorough examination of your teeth, gums, and bite. Detailed X-rays or 3D imaging may be taken to evaluate bone health and tooth positioning. If you're receiving a traditional or cantilever bridge, the adjacent teeth will need preparation. Your dentist gently reshapes these teeth by removing a small amount of enamel to accommodate the crowns that will support your bridge, using local anesthesia for your comfort.
• Impressions and Temporary Bridge: After tooth preparation, your dentist takes precise impressions or digital scans of your teeth. These detailed molds allow the dental laboratory to create a bridge that fits your mouth perfectly. While your custom bridge is being fabricated over two to three weeks, you'll receive a temporary bridge that protects your prepared teeth and allows you to eat and speak normally.
• Final Placement: Once your permanent bridge arrives, you'll return for your final appointment. Your dentist carefully removes the temporary bridge and tries in the new one to check the fit, bite alignment, and color match. Small adjustments are made as needed. Once everything looks and feels correct, your dentist permanently secures the bridge with strong dental cement.

Before you leave, your dental team provides detailed instructions on caring for your new bridge, including proper brushing and flossing techniques and foods to approach cautiously initially. At Southwest Dental Group, we guide patients through every step, ensuring you feel informed and comfortable throughout the process.

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Materials Used in Dental Bridges

Dental bridges can be fabricated from various materials, each offering different characteristics that affect appearance, strength, and longevity.

• Porcelain and all-ceramic bridges provide the most natural appearance because they closely mimic the translucency and color of natural tooth enamel. These materials are ideal for front teeth, where aesthetics are paramount. Modern ceramics are strong and biocompatible, though they may not be recommended for areas experiencing extremely heavy chewing forces.
• Metal bridges (often made from gold alloy or other strong metal alloys) offer exceptional strength and longevity, rarely chipping or breaking. They can withstand heavy biting forces well but their metallic color makes them less desirable for visible areas.
• Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) bridges combine the strength of a metal framework with the natural appearance of porcelain covering the exterior. This combination offers a good balance of durability and aesthetics for both front and back teeth.
• Zirconia bridges represent a newer advancement, offering remarkable strength combined with excellent aesthetics. Zirconia is extremely durable while maintaining a natural, tooth-like appearance, making these bridges increasingly popular.

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Advanced Technology for Better Results

Modern dental technology has revolutionized bridge design and fabrication, resulting in restorations that fit more precisely and look more natural.

• Digital intraoral scanners have replaced traditional impression materials in many practices. Instead of uncomfortable putty, dentists use small handheld scanners to capture highly detailed 3D images of your teeth within minutes. These digital impressions are more accurate and more comfortable, and can be transmitted to dental laboratories instantly.
• Computer-aided design (CAD/CAM) technology allows precise bridge design using sophisticated software. The computer creates a virtual model of your restoration, optimizing the fit and bite relationships before any physical bridge is created. Some advanced dental offices can even fabricate certain bridges in-house, potentially reducing your waiting time.
• 3D imaging provides comprehensive views of your jawbone and surrounding structures, particularly valuable when planning implant-supported bridges. This technology helps dentists evaluate bone quality and plan precise implant placement.

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Caring for Your Dental Bridge

Proper daily care is essential for maintaining your dental bridge and protecting the health of your supporting teeth and gums. While the artificial teeth cannot develop cavities, the natural teeth anchoring your bridge and surrounding gum tissue remain vulnerable without consistent hygiene.

• Daily cleaning: Brush your teeth at least twice daily using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, paying special attention to where your bridge meets your natural teeth and gums. Plaque and bacteria tend to accumulate in these margins.
• Specialized flossing: Regular dental floss cannot pass under a fixed bridge, so you'll need special tools like floss threaders, interdental brushes, or water flossers to clean beneath and around your bridge effectively.
• Diet considerations: Avoid very hard foods, such as ice or hard candy, that could crack or dislodge your bridge. Minimize extremely sticky foods like caramels that might pull on your restoration.
• Regular dental checkups: Professional cleanings and examinations every six months allow your dentist to monitor your bridge's condition, check for developing problems, and ensure your gums remain healthy.
• Nightguard if needed: If you grind or clench your teeth at night, wearing a custom nightguard can protect both your bridge and natural teeth from excessive wear.

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Meet Your Doctors

• Robert Tentler
• Matthew Pearce

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Payment and Insurance

Our office accepts cash, personal checks, and all major credit cards. Many patients use CareCredit, a healthcare financing program offering flexible monthly payment plans with promotional interest-free periods for qualifying treatments.

We work with most major dental insurance providers and are happy to verify your coverage, file claims on your behalf, and help you maximize your benefits. Our team will provide a detailed cost estimate before beginning treatment and clearly explain what your insurance plan will cover and your out-of-pocket responsibility.

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Book Your Visit Today!

Ready to restore your smile and improve your daily comfort? Schedule a consultation at Southwest Dental Group to explore your dental bridge options. Our experienced team is here to answer your questions and help you achieve a complete, healthy smile. Call (708) 403-3355 or visit us today.

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Contact Information:
Southwest Dental Group
16600 107th Ct
Phone: (708) 403-3355