How can we help you?
At the Vinton, VA dental office of Dr. Zachary Law, we strive to keep our patients educated and informed about the importance of proper oral health habits. We've found that patients who are well-informed and feel confident in their knowledge about their oral health have better outcomes, and we know that you want the best results possible from your dental care.
Your questions are important to us, and no question is ever too small. We are happy to answer your questions about our practice, the services we provide, your home-care routine, or dentistry in general.
We will take the time to explain the benefits of our services to help you make appropriate decisions about your oral health care. For your convenience, we've listed a few of the questions we hear most often from our patients, but please don't hesitate to contact our office at (540) 342-4945 if your question isn't listed here or you would like more information. A helpful member of our team will be happy to help you get the answers you need.
We are here to help, and we look forward to hearing from you!
Dental Bridges
Dental bridges and crowns actually perform two very different jobs. A dental bridge involves several teeth and is used to fill the empty space left by a missing tooth. Dental crowns are used on one tooth for added strength and protection.
A dental bridge is a single unit made up of two different types of restorations. Since the main function of a bridge is to fill an empty space, it contains an artificial tooth. But this tooth cannot stand on its own – it needs to be attached to your natural teeth for support and to hold it in place.
So the second type of restoration we use in a bridge is dental crowns that are attached to the artificial tooth, and then secured to your teeth on either side. In this way, dental crowns and bridges work together to form a single, stable unit. A dental bridge solves the problem of your missing tooth and allows you to eat normally.
Now that you understand the design of a bridge, you know that it is only used if you have a missing tooth. On the other hand, dental crowns can be used to support the bridge, protect a damaged tooth, or even correct cosmetic flaws like chipped or stained teeth.
At our Vinton dental office, Dr. Law performs many dental restorations, including crowns and bridges. Please give us a call – we’ll be happy to answer any questions you have about dental bridges and crowns.
We do have options for replacing missing teeth such as dental bridges and dentures. The option we recommend will depend on your individual needs and desired results.
Dental bridges work very well when you need only one or two teeth replaced. A bridge is made up of an artificial tooth (known as a pontic) and dental crowns that secure the pontic to your natural teeth on either side.
Partial dentures are used when you have several teeth missing; full dentures are used when all your teeth are missing or have been extracted. Modern dentures are much more comfortable than those made in the past. The material does not irritate your mouth, and today’s dentures can be created to form a very snug fit, reducing the risk of slipping and sliding.
A missing tooth is unattractive and can lead to other serious oral health problems, so replacing missing teeth as soon as possible is very important. Over time, a missing tooth permits surrounding teeth to move into the empty space. The result is that the rest of your teeth begin to shift out of their proper position, causing your teeth to become misaligned, which can lead to pain, loose teeth, grinding, and even fractures.
A bridge is a type of dental restoration that is used to fill the space left by a missing tooth and to return your teeth to full function so you can speak and eat normally.
In most cases, we use a ‘fixed bridge’ that is permanently attached to adjacent teeth with dental crowns. This type of bridge is made up of an artificial tooth, or pontic, that is secured to a dental crown on either side. Dr. Law will prepare the adjacent teeth for the crowns, and then the whole unit will be cemented in place.
Dental bridges also provide a cosmetic solution, because they replace the missing tooth, greatly improving your appearance. But the bridge also serves the purpose of stabilizing surrounding teeth.
This is important because, without a placeholder for the missing tooth, nearby teeth will gradually shift and move into the empty space. This will create misalignment of your teeth, which can eventually lead to other problems like teeth grinding and premature wearing of your teeth.
It is always a good idea to replace a missing tooth as soon as possible to prevent these other problems from occurring. Please contact our Vinton dental office for more information about dental bridges.