You have many options when it comes to restoring missing teeth. Dental bridges are able to restore many missing teeth at once, and provide a replacement that feels natural and strong. A dental bridge consists of one piece that contains a series of crowns. It is held in place by two crowns placed over natural teeth on the ends of the gap. The procedure will require at least two appointments to complete. To begin, the teeth on each end of the gap will be reshaped to fit crowns and are called abutment teeth. These abutment teeth will provide support for the rest of the bridge. Once the teeth are reshaped, an impression will be taken and sent to our lab where the bridge will be assembled to fit your teeth and gums exactly. Meanwhile, a temporary bridge will be made by Dr. Truong to allow you to eat normally while you wait for the permanent bridge. The temporary bridge resembles natural teeth so there’s no need to worry about a change in your appearance. Once the permanent bridge arrives, we’ll remove the temporary bridge and fit you with the permanent bridge to ensure that it fits comfortably before cementing it securely in place. Leaving gaps of missing teeth untreated can have long-lasting consequences. When a tooth is lost, the corresponding tooth on either the upper or lower jaw is left with nothing to bite on. This leads to teeth shifting into the area of the missing tooth, and the corresponding tooth coming out further to meet the shifted teeth so it has something to bite on. This creates an unnatural bite that can make it hard to chew normally and can cause jaw pain. The shift also creates hard to reach areas which are vulnerable to plaque and bacteria accumulation. Don’t let missing teeth take away your smile and cause you problems. Call us at Shiny Dental at 703-333-5105 to schedule an appointment and see if a dental bridge is what you need to restore your missing teeth.