Dental Bridges in Aberdeen, SD

When you have a missing tooth, it’s something that affects more than how you smile. Chewing can be challenging and your other teeth start moving out of place, which goes a long way to affecting your confidence when laughing with friends or taking a photo. Left alone, that gap tends to grow more noticeable over time, eventually causing other oral health issues to arise.

At Smile Solutions, we help patients throughout Aberdeen close that gap with a custom dental bridge built to look and feel like the tooth it replaces. Whether you lost a tooth to injury, decay, or a previous procedure, we design a bridge that restores your bite and blends naturally with the rest of your smile.

What a Dental Bridge Does

A dental bridge fills the space left by a missing tooth using a false tooth, called a pontic, that is anchored in place by the teeth on either side of the gap. We prepare those two neighboring teeth and cover them with crowns, then attach the pontic between them so the whole structure sits securely and functions like your natural bite. The result is a fixed restoration that stays in place day and night, unlike a removable partial denture.

According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, adults between the ages of 20 and 64 have an average of 26 remaining teeth out of an original 32, meaning tooth loss is a common part of adult dental health rather than a rare event. A bridge gives you a simple way to recover what was lost without disrupting the rest of your smile.

Materials We Use

We design each bridge using gold, porcelain, or a combination of both, chosen to match the strength you need and the appearance you want. We will review each of these options with you during your consultation:

• Porcelain bridges blend closely with the shade and shape of your natural teeth, making them a popular choice for gaps near the front of your mouth.
• Gold bridges offer exceptional durability for those who want a long-lasting restoration in areas with heavy bite pressure.
• Combination bridges pair a metal substructure with a porcelain overlay, balancing strength with a natural appearance.
  
  

Once we know where your gap is located and how you use your bite daily, we can recommend the material that fits your smile best.

Why Replacing a Missing Tooth Matters

A gap left untreated does not stay the same size. Teeth on either side of the space can tilt or drift, and the tooth above or below the gap may extend further than it should since it no longer meets an opposing tooth. Over time, this shifting can affect your bite alignment and make chewing certain foods more difficult.

Replacing the tooth with a bridge helps prevent this drift and keeps the rest of your smile properly supported. It also restores the appearance of a full smile, which many patients tell us makes a real difference in day-to-day confidence.

What to Expect at Your Visit

Building a bridge typically takes place over two visits. During your first appointment, we prepare the supporting teeth and take an impression so your bridge can be custom crafted to fit your bite and match your smile. We may place a temporary bridge to protect the prepared teeth while your permanent restoration is being made. At your second visit, we check the fit, make any needed adjustments, and permanently place your new bridge.

If you are also missing teeth in other areas of your mouth, we can talk through how a bridge compares with other restorative options, including same-day crowns for a single damaged tooth or porcelain veneers if your concerns are more cosmetic than structural. We will walk through what makes sense for your specific smile before we recommend any option.

Caring for Your Bridge

A dental bridge can last for many years with the right care. We recommend brushing and flossing around the bridge daily, paying close attention to the area where the pontic meets your gum line, since food particles can collect there more easily than around a natural tooth. Keeping up with your regular cleanings and checkups also gives us a chance to check the fit of your bridge and catch any concerns early. If you are curious about brightening the rest of your smile to match your new bridge, our teeth whitening service is worth asking about at your next visit.

Every patient who walks through our doors becomes part of our Aberdeen dental team’s extended family, and that includes making sure your bridge fits comfortably for years to come. We also encourage you to review our patient center for helpful information as you prepare for your appointment.

Schedule Your Visit at Smile Solutions

Dr. Amy Scepaniak and Dr. Aleaha Fettig Ledeboer have led Smile Solutions as Aberdeen’s locally owned, family friendly dental practice since 2009, and closing the gap left by a missing tooth is one of the many ways we help patients feel good about their smile again. We take the time to explain your options clearly so you always know what to expect.

It’s your turn to come visit us and see the difference for yourself. Call (605) 725-1500 or request an appointment online to set up your first visit and find out if a dental bridge is the right fit for restoring your smile.