Dental Bridges in Chicago, IL
Restore Your Smile’s Appearance and Functionality
Tooth loss can be caused by several factors, including oral health conditions or dental trauma. Missing teeth can also result in further complications if left untreated. When large gaps are allowed to persist in your mouth, remaining teeth can begin to drift, and your bite may also change and result in temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).
To avoid these potentially painful dental issues, our restorative dentist in Chicago recommends dental bridges. At Contos Smile Center, we’re proud to offer this natural-looking and durable solution to patients in Evanston, Skokie, and Arlington Heights, IL.
Our Chicago, IL restorative dentist, Dr. Contos can replace up to four missing teeth with a dental bridge. Read on to learn more about this restorative treatment and if a bridge may be right for you.
What Are Dental Bridges?
Dental bridges are single- or multi-teeth restoration solutions that effectively “bridge” the gap left by missing teeth. Using fake teeth known as pontics, dental bridges are a natural-looking way to restore your smile and prevent shifting teeth. This restoration is supported by abutments in the form of dental crowns on either side of the gap.
Our restorative dentist in Chicago, IL is proud to offer various types of dental bridges, including conventional fixed, cantilever, or resin-bonded bridges. Bridges are also available in a wide range of material choices, including porcelain and metal, various resilient composites, alumina and zirconia.
Benefits of Dental Bridges
There are a host of benefits when it comes to dental bridges, including:
- Durability and Longevity: With proper care and maintenance, dental bridges can last up to 15 years before needing to be replaced, and are designed to withstand your daily activities.
- Preserves Face Shape: Shifting teeth can lead to a sunken appearance, but thankfully dental bridges can help prevent this from occurring and maintain your facial shape.
- Short, Minimally Invasive Procedure: Unless you’re receiving a dental implant supported bridge, the procedure for placing bridges is a quick and non-invasive process that can be completed in as few as two appointments to our Chicago office.
- Natural Appearance: Dr. Contos will ensure your pontics and dental crowns match the shape, size, and color of your surrounding teeth for a seamless appearance.
When Are Dental Bridges Necessary?
Our Chicago dentist recommends dental bridges for patients looking to replace one to four missing teeth. Regardless of which dental bridge option you choose, they’re all effective in restoring smiles with:
- Missing teeth
- Significant teeth gaps
- Severely damaged or decayed teeth
Schedule an appointment with Dr. Contos to learn if dental bridges will be an effective restoration for you. He’ll thoroughly evaluate your teeth and gums to determine if you’re an ideal candidate for this treatment, and discuss your other treatment options, if necessary.
The Dental Bridge Process
Receiving a dental bridge is a simple process that can be completed in two visits to our dentist in Chicago, IL. After attending a consultation with Dr. Contos, where he’ll determine if a dental bridge is best for you, he’ll proceed with the procedure.
Our dentist will begin by taking a series of X-rays of your mouth. He’ll then take an impression of your teeth using a soft, putty-like material in a tray. This impression allows your dentist to create a three-dimensional model of your mouth that will be the template a special laboratory will use to create your dental bridge.
Because this is a two-visit process, our experienced Chicago dentist will create and attach a temporary bridge while your permanent bridge is being fabricated.
When we receive your restoration, you’ll return to our office for your final fitting appointment. Dr. Contos will check the fit of your bridge and dental crowns and ensure you’re satisfied with the result. After making any necessary adjustments, your dentist will secure the bridge. You’re then ready to leave our office with a restored smile!
Frequently Asked Questions
Dental bridges can last up to 15 years with proper care and maintenance. To get the most out of your restoration, it’s important to practice good oral hygiene. A strict regimen of brushing and flossing will keep the bridge and surrounding teeth clean. This is of critical importance as the bridge relies on the neighboring teeth for support.
We also encourage patients to schedule biannual appointments with our dentist in Cook County for routine dental checkups. Regular dental cleanings and exams can help remove unhealthy bacteria regular brushing can’t, and can help Dr. Contos detect any underlying oral health problems.
Depending on your individual needs, Dr. Contos can create a dental bridge that’ll support up to four adjacent missing teeth. During your initial consultation, our dentist will evaluate your unique oral health needs and determine how many pontics to place in your bridge.
The cost of dental bridges depends on factors determined in your personalized treatment plan, such as which bridge option you chose and how many teeth are being replaced. Dr. Contos can provide you with a cost estimate at your initial consultation.
We recommend contacting your dental insurance provider beforehand to learn what your plan will cover. You can also visit our financing page to learn more about your financing options. We’re also proud to work with third-party financing companies like CareCredit and LendingClub, which are designed to help patients cover out-of-pocket treatment costs with plans that fit their budgets.
Durable Smile Restoration With Our Chicago Dentist
Missing teeth can lead to a host of serious dental problems. Dental bridges are a sturdy and reliable way to protect and restore your teeth’s health and function. Dr. Contos and our entire dental team are proud to offer an array of dental bridge options so our patients can enjoy beautiful, complete smiles.
When you’re ready to begin the journey to a restored smile, call our Chicago office at (773) 973-0531 or fill out our convenient online contact form located below. We welcome patients from Skokie, Evanston, and Arlington Heights to learn how Dr. Contos can transform their oral health.
Our Vision
We are dedicated to providing the highest level of service and quality to our patient community by cultivating strong relationships, communicating thoughtful treatment solutions, and providing an enjoyable atmosphere, we can empower our patients to take ownership of their oral health.
We are committed to researching and offering state-of-the-art dental solutions in order to deliver the most advanced treatment options to our patients.
