Benefits of Dental Bridges
- Restore your ability to chew and speak comfortably
- Fill gaps for a complete, natural-looking smile
- Keep neighboring teeth from drifting into the space
- Help maintain the shape of your face
- Distribute the forces of chewing evenly across your bite
- Fixed in place, with no removal or adhesives
What to Expect When You Get a Bridge
- Consultation and exam: We examine your teeth and gums and take X-rays to ensure the supporting teeth are healthy and to determine the right type of bridge.
- Preparing the supporting teeth: For a traditional bridge, the teeth on either side of the gap are gently reshaped under local anesthetic to hold the crowns.
- Impressions and shade matching: We record the shape of your teeth and choose a color that blends with your smile.
- Temporary bridge: You'll wear a temporary bridge to protect your teeth while your permanent bridge is made in a dental lab.
- Placement: Usually a few weeks later, we check the fit and bite of your new bridge, make any adjustments, and cement it in place.
For an implant-supported bridge, the implants are placed first and allowed to heal for a few months before the final bridge is attached.
What Are Dental Bridges Made Of?
Bridges can be made of porcelain, zirconia, or porcelain fused to metal. Porcelain and zirconia look the most natural, and zirconia is especially strong for back teeth. We'll recommend the material that best balances appearance, strength, and cost for the location of your bridge.
Who Is a Good Candidate for a Dental Bridge?
You may be a good candidate if you:
- Are missing one or more teeth in a row
- Have healthy teeth or enough jawbone for implants on either side of the gap
- Have healthy gums, or gum disease that's been treated
- Are committed to brushing, flossing and regular checkups
How Long Do Dental Bridges Last?
With good care, a dental bridge can last 10 to 15 years or longer, and implant-supported bridges often last even longer. How long yours lasts depends mostly on keeping the supporting teeth and gums healthy, and on avoiding habits like chewing ice or biting hard objects.
Caring for Your Bridge
- Brush twice a day, including around the crowns and along the gum line.
- Clean under the bridge every day. Food and plaque can collect under the replacement tooth. A floss threader, super floss, or a water flosser lets you clean that space. We'll show you how at your placement visit.
- Watch out for hard and sticky foods, like ice, hard candy, and caramel.
- Keep up with checkups and cleanings, so we can check the supporting teeth and catch problems early.
Bridge Repairs and Replacement
If your bridge feels loose, comes off, cracks, or the area around it becomes sore, call us right away. A bridge that comes off can often be cleaned and recemented if the supporting teeth are healthy. Save the bridge and bring it with you. If a supporting tooth has developed decay, we'll treat it and make a new bridge. We repair and replace bridges placed at other offices, too.
Dental Bridge Cost and Insurance
The cost of a dental bridge depends on the type of bridge, how many teeth it replaces, the material, and whether you need any treatment first, like a root canal or implants. You'll receive an exact estimate at your consultation, before any work begins.
How Insurance Typically Covers Bridges
Unlike purely cosmetic treatment, a bridge restores your ability to chew, so many dental plans cover part of the cost. Most plans classify bridges as major restorative services, which often means:
- A partial benefit after your deductible
- A waiting period on some new plans before major services are covered
- A yearly maximum that limits how much your plan pays each benefit year
We're in-network with Aetna, Ameritas, Assurant, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Delta Dental, GEHA, Guardian, Humana, MetLife, Principal Life and United Concordia, and we accept many other PPO plans. Our team will check your benefits, explain what your plan covers, and file your claims for you. If your yearly maximum resets soon, we can help you time treatment to make the most of it.
Other Ways to Make Your Bridge Affordable
- Sunbit®: pay for your bridge in monthly installments over 6 to 72 months, without a hard credit check.
- CareCredit® is accepted, and we also offer in-office payment plans.
- Dental Savers Plan: if you don't have insurance, a yearly membership ($94 for one person, $188 for a family with children under 18) gives you savings on dental care.
- HSA and FSA: dental bridges are a qualifying expense, so you can pay with pre-tax dollars.
- We accept cash, checks, debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover.
*Subject to credit approval. Minimum monthly payments required. Visit www.carecredit.com for details.
Meet Dr. Jae An, DDS
When you're deciding how to replace a missing tooth, it helps to have a dentist who's equally comfortable with every option. Dr. Jae An places both bridges and dental implants, so his recommendation is based on what's best for your mouth, not on what he can offer.
His credentials at a glance:
- Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from NYU College of Dentistry
- General practice residency at Jersey City Medical Center
- RSDM/AAID MaxiCourse in Implant Dentistry, an extended program in implant planning, placement and restoration
- Training in facial injectables, reflecting his interest in facial aesthetics
- Bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Maryland
- Founder of SOMA Dental Mission of New York (2007), a nonprofit that provides dental care through mission trips
When he isn't seeing patients, Dr. An enjoys time with his wife and daughter and plays several instruments, including the piano, guitar, drums and cello.
.webp)
