Petrie Storer & Associates Dental Bridge and Dental Implant Informational Series: Fixed Bridges

Don’t let a missing tooth take your smile from you! A custom bridge from Petrie, Storer  & Associates is indicated according to the needs of each individual patient, and can vary from a fixed bridge to an implant supported bridge. If there are surrounding teeth available, the dentist can pare down the existing enamel to shape them into an abutment upon which he will seat crowns that hold the pontic, or artificial tooth.

The fixed bridge process can be accomplished in two visits. The first visit will be comprised of imaging wherein the doctor can assess the type of bridge the patient is best suited for, if it is indeed a fixed bridge, the doctor can proceed to numb the patient and prepare the surrounding teeth where he will place the crowns. The patient will be fitted for their fixed bridge and an impression will be sent to the laboratory where a technician will cast a custom bridge that the doctor will seat when the patient returns for their follow-up appointment.

The implant supported bridge is a going to require an outside consultation and dental implant surgery by an oral surgeon or periodontist. This process will be covered in our next blog.