Bridges What you need to know.

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What Are Dental Bridges?

A dental bridge is a prosthetic replacement of a missing or extracted tooth or teeth that are anchored by the surrounding teeth on each side. These porcelain prosthetic teeth are fused together by a number of porcelain crowns on either side, creating what dentists call a “bridge”. Dental bridges help to maintain the structure in the mouth in order to keep the remaining teeth and bone under the gum from shifting. This is an alternative option to having dental implants and still keep your teeth and jaw functioning correctly.

Cosmetic Dentistry Grants and Dental Bridges

CDG can help qualified individuals achieve the smile of their dreams through dental bridge treatment and a partial grant. Finding the right tooth replacement is the solution to a confident smile! Let us help you restore the function and feel of your teeth with one of the most popular dental procedures. Learn more about the program here.

Cosmetic Dentistry Grants is a program that offers financial assistance towards a dentistry procedure at a participating dental office. CDG does not provide free or fully subsidized dental procedures.

Dental Bridge Eligibility: Who Can Get Them

Most adults can be considered for dental bridges. Your dentist may suggest this treatment if you qualify and have a missing tooth/teeth or one that is critically decayed or broken and needs extraction. Determining whether you need a dental bridge is up to the dentist’s discretion, but if you feel this may be a suitable option for you, it is best to speak to a dental professional.

When You Should Get Dental Bridges

The American Dental Association says that the average adult has three or more decayed or missing teeth, so you are not alone! You should look to get a dental bridge when you are missing one or more teeth in your mouth. Dental bridges are a great way to restore the look and function of your mouth and smile to a more natural, healthy look. Common reasons people consider getting dental bridges include: restoring a smile, restoring full mouth functions, restoring speech and pronunciation, fixing a bite which will allow you to chew properly, and maintaining the appearance of your facial structure. 

Where to Get Dental Bridges

Cosmetic Dentistry Grants (CDG) will help you find a cosmetic dentist in your area that participates in the CDG program, allowing you to get financial assistance toward your Dental Bridges procedure.

CDG does not provide free or fully subsidized dental procedures.

Benefits of Dental Bridges

There are numerous benefits to getting dental bridges that can impact your overall quality of life. These include:

  • Help maintain the shape of your face
  • Corrects the normal bite force which is compromised by the missing teeth
  • Restores natural speaking ability
  • Prevents other teeth from drifting out of position

Not to mention, the time it takes to get used to your new dental bridge is usually easy and comfortable!

How Much Are Dental Bridges?

The price for each bridge will vary from each dental office. A fixed bridge can typically cost someone anywhere from $1,500 and up in the United States. Keep in mind, the cost can also depend on the materials used in the bridge and how complex the bridge may be to place. Many dental insurance agencies offer to cover the cost of a dental bridge. CDG will be happy to speak to you about a plan to cover a partial payment of your dental bridges.

How the Cosmetic Dentistry Grants Can Help You Get Dental Bridges

A Cosmetic Dentistry Grant (CDG) is available for those looking to receive a dental bridge procedure. CDG covers a partial cost of dental bridges. Learn more about the CDG and if you’re eligible to get a CDG grant for dental bridges. Apply now!

Types of Dental Bridges

There are two main types of dental bridges: fixed bridges and cantilever bridges. 

A fixed bridge involves two or more porcelain crowns that replace missing teeth and anchor prosthetic teeth together. A Dental bridge helps preserve the structure of a natural smile, so you can do all the things you love, worry-free! 

A cantilever bridge supports the prosthetic tooth from only one side of the missing tooth or teeth. This is not considered as stable but in some circumstances is the only alternative.

Risks of Getting Dental Bridges

There typically aren’t many risks to worry about after getting dental bridges. You must make sure to keep your bridges clean especially underneath the pontic of the bridge. With traditional bridges, the natural surrounding teeth have to be reduced somewhat to prepare them for dental crowns, which can weaken them. If these surrounding teeth become too weak, the restoration can collapse. In addition to this, traditional bridges eventually need to be replaced. 

Dental Bridges: FAQ

We are asked many questions about the dental bridges procedures, so we’ve answered some of the most common questions below:

Are Dental Bridges Permanent?

Dental bridges are permanent to where they cannot be taken out of your mouth without a dentist. This allows for a more natural feeling inside of the mouth without having to worry about anything coming out of place. A dental bridge may need to be replaced every 5-15 years depending on how well they are taken care of.

Is a Bridge Cheaper than an Implant?

A dental bridge is typically less expensive than an implant when you look at the initial cost. You will want to take a look at what your dental insurance covers. It is common for a dental plan to cover a bridge but not an implant.

How Many Teeth Can Be in a Bridge?

Dental bridges usually replace anywhere between two to six or possibly more teeth as long as the surrounding natural teeth are healthy enough to support the bridge. 

What Material Are Dental Bridges Made Out Of?

Dental bridges can be a combination of metal and ceramic, all porcelain, or all metal. All-metal dental bridges being the most affordable, but do not look natural as the porcelain bridges do.

What is the Strongest Dental Bridge Material?

The most up-to-date and advanced material for dental bridges is zirconia, which is stronger and more durable than porcelain. Zirconia dental bridges are able to handle more biting pressure, back teeth grinding, and are more resistant to chips or stains than porcelain.

Do Dental Bridges Feel Natural?

The dental bridge should feel nearly as real and comfortable to you as your natural teeth did. Many of our patients report that their bridges feel even better than the natural teeth did before bridge placement, especially if these teeth had large fillings or restorations in them.

How Do You Clean Under a Dental Bridge?

Gently move the spongy floss between the gum and the base of the bridge, use a soft back-and-forth motion to remove plaque under the prosthetic tooth. Then wrap the spongy floss around the other side of the bridge, slide up and down to clean the adjacent tooth surface.

Can You Whiten a Dental Bridge?

When it comes to removing stains from bridges, you would be wise to skip over-the-counter whitening options. Because of the nature of bridges, these products are essentially ineffective. They are made for regular teeth; not porcelain. Your dentist can clean and brighten your natural teeth at a dental appointment.

Does Food Get Stuck Under a Dental Bridge?

Food particles can get stuck under the bridge pontic, which replaces the missing tooth, so special bridge cleaning methods are needed, such as super-floss to clean underneath these bridge areas, to prevent bad breath and/or infection resulting from not cleaning the bridge properly.

Can You Eat Normally with a Dental Bridge?

Dental bridges function similar to natural teeth, so no food or beverage is completely off-limits after dental bridge treatment. Still, to prolong the lifespan of the dental bridge, patients should be careful about what they eat and drink. Best to avoid hard candy and whole nuts.

Apply Today

A healthy mouth and the smile of your dreams could be closer than you think. Apply now with Cosmetic Dentistry Grants to see if you’re eligible.

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From Our Recipients

Due to a serendipitous google search for something unrelated I learned about this opportunity and like a dream come true I will have something that I have wanted repaired for years, repaired. It began when I was 7 or 8, I had fallen on my face and my baby tooth was thrusted into my bone pushing my adult tooth up. Over the years of dental surgery and braces they were able to bring the tooth down but I had a lot of other issues that occured and things were never quite right and I did not have the money to repair it. But now I am and feel thankful and very happy. Thank you for your kind help. This will change my life for the better. Thank you.

Elan Ferguson - New York , NY

I am so grateful for Cosmetic Dentistry Grants. I have been so unhappy with my appearance for many years and thought I would never get my smile back! Thanks to being selected for a $7,500 grant towards my implants, I have been given a second chance. I can now begin a new journey and smile again, I have so much appreciation for all involved.

Kara Maldonado - Laguna Niguel, CA

Dear Donor, I wanted to take this time to reach out and thank you for this grant. This will help me out in so many ways. I will be able to afford my costs to fix my mouth. I will be able to feel better about my smile after all is said and done. This will bring back my confidence and make me feel better when I open my mouth and smile. Thank you so much for the help that you have given me. It makes me feel so happy to know that you are helping me with my goal to fix my mouth. I appreciate everything that you have done for me. It is greatly appreciated! Because of your kindness, I will feel like a new man. Thank you so much again for everything!

Thomas Ryder - Elizabeth, NJ

I am very thankful to have been selected for the cosmetic dentistry grant and to Smile Select for helping me to achieve having a perfect smile. For about 8 years now I have grown up with braces on my teeth up until I needed my baby teeth removed, in which once tooth came down successfully and the other did not. Within time there was no progression and I was finally able to have options in getting my tooth back. Which did not feel possible at first. Luckily I overheard on the radio about the Cosmetic Dentistry Grants program and I have never felt so grateful to have been selected for this opportunity. I finally feel I am able to have a choice in getting the full smile I have dreamed of having. Thank you once again for making this possible for me.

Sabrina Reyes - Los Angeles, CA

Thank you so much for selecting me for the cosmetic dentistry grant. It will certainly help with the final cost.

Janis TettLos Angeles, CA

Thank you for the help with getting my teeth worked on. I could not be able to get the work done on my own insurance I have. I have been putting off the work I needed to get done. I am very grateful for the grant. Thank you again.

Mark Williams - Littlerock, CA

Thank you very much for selecting me for a dental grant in the amount of $7,500. I look forward to using this grant towards my dentistry and having a nice smile. I've been so unhappy with my teeth for quite a while and this has given me some hope. Thank you!

Nilda Vincenty - White Plains, NY