Getting Dental Bridges in Tukwila, WA

Missing teeth can impact far more than your appearance—they can interfere with how you eat, speak, and even your overall oral health. If you ever need a dental bridge in Tukwila, WA, visit Benca & Gee Dental Wellness for high-quality dental bridges.

We provide patients with high-quality dental bridges, restoring oral functionality, a complete smile, and confidence.

Understanding What Dental Bridges Are and Who Can Benefit

When you have one or more missing teeth that you want to be replaced, your dentist will recommend some fixed dental prosthetics to fill the gap created by the missing teeth/tooth. These recommendations could range from dental implants to fixed dental bridges. A highly skilled and experienced dentist from our office will take the time to review the options available to you, potentially including fixed bridges, and restore your appearance, smile, and confidence.

What is involved when getting a dental bridge?

• Abutment teeth - these are the existing teeth on either side of the missing teeth. These will be worked  on in preparation for the bridge
• Bridge abutments - these are fully custom and laboratory-made and appear just like a natural tooth that are carefully placed over the abutment teeth to hold the bridge
• Pontic - this is the laboratory-made tooth that fills the dental gap and is “bridged” to the new bridge abutments

Who Needs Dental Bridges?

The right candidate for dental bridges includes the following:

• If you are having a dental gap
• Have strong and healthy abutment teeth
• Individuals who require fixed non-removable teeth/tooth replacement
• If you are searching for an affordable way to restore oral function or smile, call us to discuss your individual needs regarding tooth implant vs dental bridge
• Dental bridges are however not recommended for small children and young adults because their jaws are still developing. At Benca & Gee Dental Wellness, we will carry out a conclusive evaluation of your teeth before deciding whether dental bridges are for you.

What are the Dental Conditions that Dental Bridges Address?

You can opt for dental bridges for a myriad of conditions that are brought about by missing teeth, such as:

• A Smile with gaps - Dental bridges fill gaps between your teeth, enhancing your smile and restoring confidence. 

• Chewing problem—Individuals with missing teeth often experience difficulties biting or chewing food. This can lead to digestive issues and diet restrictions. However, dental bridges can turn the case around.
• Speech problems - did you know that your teeth form certain special sounds in your speech? With gaps in your teeth, some sounds could come out either unclear or slurred.
• Shifting of the adjacent teeth - Most often, the adjacent teeth next to the gap may drift into the gap. This increases the risk of decay and sometimes bite issues and misalignment if there are no tooth bridges.
• A change in facial structure - Missing teeth lead to bone loss in the jaw, making your face appear older, sometimes sagging or hollow. Teeth bridges are used to support your jawbone structure to prevent shifting
• Uneven bite distribution - when all teeth are intact there is even distribution of force when chewing. When a tooth is missing, the other teeth experience stress when chewing which can lead to discomfort and further damage. Dental bridges can help to distribute the bite forces better.

How Do You Get Dental Bridges?

The process involves visiting our Tukwila office for an appointment where we will:

• Consultation and Examination - During your visit, Dr. Benca and Dr. Gee will assess your dental gap and overall oral health. This helps us to know the appropriate bridge shape, size, and materials to use. We also take X-ray images to get the exact model of your mouth.
• Preparing the Abutment Teeth - We prepare the abutment teeth by removing an outer layer of tooth structure to ensure the bridge abutments fit well. We use local anesthesia to make the process comfortable.
• Digital scan for the Permanent Dental Bridge - We prepare a detailed digital scan of your teeth and gums and forward it to a dental laboratory where a custom-made bridge is created, considering all aspects such as color, shape of the new tooth/teeth, and more.
• Fitting the Bridge - The dentist permanently cements the dental bridge.
• Aftercare Instructions—We will give you detailed instructions on how to care for your bridge, such as brushing and flossing techniques.

What to Expect After Treatment

After getting treatment from Benca & Gee Dental Wellness, there are several things to expect: a restored smile, improved speech and chewing, prevention of teeth shifting, improved bite stability, and a long-term solution to missing teeth. Usually, the lifespan of a tooth bridge is between 5 and 15 years. However, when you follow our dentist's instructions and observe good oral hygiene, your bridge can last much longer.

Why Come to Benca & Gee Dental Wellness for Help?

It's crucial to visit Benca & Gee Dental Wellness for help, as this move can prevent further oral health conditions, such as tooth shifting, decay, and bite misalignment. Visit us and prevent these issues. Drs. Laura Benca, Adam Gee, and Patricia Benca are also focused on restoring functionality early and helping maintain facial structure. We will not rest until we improve your confidence and overall dental health.

For the cost of dental bridges, please feel free to reach out to Benca & Gee Dental Wellness in Tukwila, WA, and our experienced team will guide you through your dental bridge journey.