Dental Bridges

A dental bridge is one of the most straightforward ways to replace a missing tooth. If you have a gap where a tooth used to be and the teeth on either side are still healthy, a bridge anchors a replacement tooth to crowns on those neighbors — closing the space, restoring your bite, and giving you back the ability to eat and smile without worrying about the gap.

Here is what a bridge actually looks like in practice. Two crowns are placed on the teeth flanking the gap, and a false tooth — called a pontic — is connected between them. The whole piece is one solid unit, custom-made to match your natural teeth in shape, size, and color. Once it is cemented in place, it feels and functions like your own teeth, and most people cannot tell the difference.

You will typically need two visits. At the first, Dr. Maharaj prepares the anchor teeth by gently reshaping them to accept crowns, takes impressions, and fits you with a comfortable temporary bridge so you can eat and go about your week normally. At the second visit, your permanent bridge is checked, adjusted, and bonded into place. By the time you walk out, you are eating normally again.

A bridge does more than fill a cosmetic gap. When a tooth is missing, the teeth on either side can gradually drift toward the empty space, changing your bite and creating new problems. A bridge holds everything in alignment and distributes chewing forces evenly, which protects the long-term health of the teeth around it.

Caring for a bridge is straightforward. You brush and floss around it the same way you would your natural teeth, with the addition of a floss threader or interdental brush to clean underneath the pontic. Your hygienist will show you exactly how to do it at your first cleaning after placement — it takes about 30 seconds once you get the hang of it.

Whether you live in Bedford, Forest, or Montvale, your bridge is made and placed right here on East Main Street. No referrals, no driving to Roanoke. Dr. Maharaj handles the entire process in-house, from the first impression to the final adjustment.