A missing tooth is not just a gap. The teeth on either side gradually drift toward the opening, the tooth above or below begins to over-erupt, and your bite shifts in ways that create new problems years later. Chewing becomes uneven. Cleaning becomes harder.
A dental bridge closes that gap by anchoring replacement teeth to the healthy teeth on either side — restoring your ability to chew and speak normally, and keeping your remaining teeth where they belong.
A traditional bridge uses the natural teeth on both sides of the gap as anchors. Those teeth are prepared and fitted with crowns, and the replacement tooth is fused between them as a single unit that is bonded permanently into place.
The result is fixed — it doesn’t come out, and it doesn’t move when you eat. Most patients adapt within a few days and stop thinking about it entirely.
When several teeth are missing in a row, or when the neighboring teeth aren’t strong enough to serve as anchors, an implant-supported bridge is often the better solution. Rather than relying on natural teeth, the bridge is supported by dental implants placed in the jaw.
This approach preserves your natural teeth — nothing needs to be prepared or crowned — and the implants help maintain the bone in the area where teeth were lost. Learn about dental implants →
Worth saying plainly, since it’s the opposite of an upsell: if you’re only missing a single tooth, we typically recommend a dental implant rather than a bridge.
A traditional bridge requires preparing the two healthy teeth on either side of the gap — permanently altering teeth that have nothing wrong with them. When a single implant can replace a single tooth without touching its neighbors, that’s usually the better long-term decision.
Bridges make excellent sense for multiple missing teeth in a row, or when an implant isn’t the right fit for your situation. Your dentist will walk through the options honestly and let you decide.
Your bridge is made from tooth-colored materials shaded to match your natural teeth, fabricated by the same laboratories that produce our crowns. Those labs do custom shading work, so a well-made bridge blends with the teeth around it rather than announcing itself.
A traditional bridge typically takes two appointments. At the first, we prepare the anchor teeth, take a digital scan, and place a temporary bridge. Your permanent bridge is fabricated by the laboratory and fitted, adjusted, and bonded at the second appointment.
Implant-supported bridges follow a longer timeline, since the implants must be placed and allowed to integrate with the bone first. We coordinate that process with the oral surgeon and handle the restoration ourselves.
Often ten to fifteen years or more with good care. The lifespan depends largely on the health of the anchor teeth and how well the area around the bridge is kept clean.
With a floss threader or an interdental brush, which let you clean beneath the replacement tooth where regular floss can’t reach. We’ll show you exactly how at your appointment — this is the single most important habit for making a bridge last.
Yes. Bridges are made from tooth-colored materials custom-shaded to your surrounding teeth.
It depends on the situation. For a single missing tooth, we usually recommend an implant, since a bridge requires altering the healthy teeth on either side. For several missing teeth in a row, a bridge is frequently the better answer.
Many dental plans provide partial coverage. We’ll review your specific benefits before treatment and discuss financing if you need it.
See Insurance + Financing →Call 504-341-3120 to discuss your options at our Marrero office. Serving Harvey, Gretna, Metairie, and greater New Orleans.