Dental Bridges in Dunn, NC
At J. Michael Williams, DDS, we understand the significant impact a complete smile has on your health and confidence. Our practice offers dental bridges as a reliable option for replacing missing teeth. These dental appliances restore your smile and improve your ability to speak and chew, which is essential for your oral health and well-being.
Our team is committed to providing personalized care tailored to your unique needs, and we focus on helping you achieve a fully functional and beautiful smile that enhances your quality of life. With our expertise and compassionate care, we’re here to help you regain your confidence and enjoy a healthy, beautiful smile every day. Let us be your partner in achieving a smile you’ll love!
What Are Dental Bridges?
Dental bridges are sets of artificial teeth crafted to replace one or multiple missing teeth, effectively filling the gap left by tooth loss. These bridges come in different types to suit various needs:
- Traditional bridges: These consist of two crowns that cover the teeth on each side of the gap, and a false tooth or teeth in between.
- Cantilever bridges: This type features a false tooth that attaches to the healthy teeth on just one side of the gap.
- Maryland bridges (resin-bonded): Unlike traditional and cantilever bridges, which rely on crowns for support, Maryland bridges use a porcelain or metal framework attached to the backs of neighboring teeth. This method is ideal for replacing missing front teeth and helps preserve the structure of healthy teeth.
- Implant bridges: These use dental implants instead of natural teeth as support, offering a more stable and long-lasting solution.
We’ll help you choose the dental bridge that best suits your needs, ensuring you have a complete and healthy smile.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Bridges?

Dental bridges offer many advantages for those with missing teeth. Here’s how they can enhance your dental health and overall well-being:
Improve Chewing and Speaking
Replacing missing teeth with dental bridges restores your ability to chew properly, which is crucial for enjoying a varied diet and maintaining good nutrition. When you can chew effectively, you can comfortably eat a range of foods, including those that are rich in essential nutrients like raw fruits, vegetables, and proteins. A diverse and balanced diet supports better overall health and prevents nutritional deficiencies.
Dental bridges also fill the gaps created when teeth are lost, enhancing speech clarity. Improved speech articulation allows for clearer communication and greater confidence in social interactions.
Maintain an Effective Bite
Dental bridges evenly distribute bite forces across your teeth, reducing stress on the remaining teeth. They also help maintain your teeth’s alignment by acting as a physical barrier. When a tooth is lost, adjacent teeth shift into the gap, leading to misalignment and bite problems. By filling these gaps, dental bridges keep your teeth in their correct positions.
A strong, well-aligned bite not only protects your teeth but also helps prevent jaw pain and discomfort. Misaligned teeth can lead to issues like TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder, which may cause headaches, jaw pain, and difficulty chewing.
Help Prevent Gum Disease and Decay
Filling the gaps left by missing teeth with dental bridges also helps prevent oral health issues. Without a bridge, the teeth can shift, creating alignment issues. In addition to impacting your bite capabilities, misaligned teeth also make brushing and flossing more difficult. As a result, bacteria can accumulate in the difficult-to-reach spaces, causing decay and gum disease.
Replacing your teeth with a bridge halts tooth movement, making it easier to maintain an effective oral hygiene routine.
How an Implant Bridge Can Help You
Implant bridges offer all the benefits of conventional bridges, with the added advantages of dental implants. We insert these small titanium posts into the jawbone, where they fuse with the bone to create a strong, stable foundation. This fusion (osseointegration) allows the implants to act like natural tooth roots, providing a durable base for the bridge.
Here are the top benefits of choosing implant bridges:
- Maintain jawbone health: Dental implants stimulate the jawbone in the same way natural tooth roots do, helping to maintain bone density and prevent the bone loss that often occurs after teeth are lost. On the other hand, conventional bridges do not intersect with the jawbone, so they don’t stimulate the bone the same way. This lack of stimulation can lead to bone deterioration that compromises your facial structure over time.
- Preserve your natural teeth: Traditional dental bridges require us to alter healthy neighboring teeth by removing some enamel to fit crowns that support the bridge. Implant bridges, on the other hand, use dental implants as anchors, eliminating the need to modify your natural teeth. This approach keeps your healthy teeth intact while offering a more stable and long-lasting solution.
- Ensure long-term durability: With proper care, implant bridges last significantly longer than traditional bridges. They provide a durable and reliable solution for missing teeth, offering functionality and aesthetic benefits for many years.
At J. Michael Williams, DDS, we offer both traditional and mini dental implants to support bridges. Our team will carefully evaluate your needs to determine your eligibility and recommend the most suitable implant option.
We Can Replace Missing Teeth With Dental Bridges
Transform your dental health and enhance your confidence with expert care at J. Michael Williams, DDS. Our dental bridges are designed to fill the gaps in your smile, offering a functional and aesthetic solution tailored to your unique needs. Experience the joy of speaking, chewing, and smiling with confidence again. Reach out to us today and let our team guide you toward a healthier, more beautiful smile.
Frequently Asked Questions
A dental bridge most commonly replaces one to three teeth in a row, but it can sometimes replace up to four consecutive teeth. However, for patients missing most or all of their teeth, a roundhouse bridge can replace an entire upper or lower arch. Our implant-supported roundhouse bridges are an excellent alternative to traditional dentures.
During your consultation, we will carefully review your case to determine the best bridge option for your needs.
To clean under your dental bridge, use a floss threader to gently move the floss back and forth beneath and around the bridge. You can also use a water flosser, which sprays a stream of water to flush out food particles and plaque from under the bridge. Rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash can also help reduce bacteria in areas that are difficult to reach.
Always be gentle to avoid damaging the bridge or irritating your gums. If you’re unsure about the best cleaning method for your specific bridge, consult our office.
Yes, we can use a dental bridge to replace a missing front tooth. Maryland bridges are a common solution for front teeth, providing aesthetic and functional benefits.
Our dental bridges are fixed dental appliances, so they aren’t removable. Partial dentures can be removed, but they don’t offer the same stability and peace of mind as a cemented restoration. At your visit, we will assess your needs and preferences to determine the most suitable option for you.