Dental Bridges in Stafford, VA: Fixed Replacement for Missing Teeth

Losing a tooth changes more than your smile. Chewing gets harder on that side, and over time the neighboring teeth can drift into the open space. A dental bridge in Stafford, VA fills that gap with a replacement tooth that stays in your mouth and is not taken out at night. Rai Family Dentistry provides fixed bridges for adults who are missing one tooth or several teeth in a row.

A traditional bridge is made of a replacement tooth, or more than one, joined to crowns that fit over the teeth on either side of the space. Dr. Shivaprasanna Rai and Dr. Paulina Oldland start by checking whether those supporting teeth are healthy enough for the job, using digital X-rays and, when more detail is needed, 3D CBCT imaging. Because we also place dental implants in our office, you can hear about both options in the same appointment. An implant replaces a tooth without involving the teeth next to it, while a bridge avoids surgery. Your dentist will explain which makes more sense for your mouth.

A bridge may be worth discussing when:

• You are missing one or more teeth next to each other
• The teeth beside the gap already have large fillings or need crowns
• You want a fixed replacement instead of a removable partial denture
• Food keeps packing into the space, or chewing on that side is difficult
• An implant is not the right fit for you at this time

Here is how treatment usually goes. First comes an exam and a conversation about your choices. If you decide on a bridge, the supporting teeth are numbed and shaped to make room for their crowns. We capture a digital impression with our iTero scanner, so there is no tray of putty to bite into, and send it to a dental laboratory. You leave with a temporary bridge that protects the prepared teeth. At your next visit the temporary comes off, we try in the finished bridge, check the color, fit, and bite, and cement it once everything feels right. Most patients need two visits, though some cases take more.

Looking after a bridge takes a little extra effort:

• Clean underneath the replacement tooth every day with a floss threader, interdental brush, or water flosser
• Brush the supporting teeth carefully along the gumline
• Skip very hard or sticky foods that can loosen or chip the bridge
• Tell us if the bridge ever feels loose or your bite changes
• Come in for regular cleanings so we can check the teeth holding it in place

Coverage for bridges varies from one dental plan to the next. Our front desk can review your benefits with you; we accept most PPO dental insurance plans and submit the claims ourselves. A written estimate is given before any work begins, and you can spread out your portion with CareCredit, Alphaeon Credit, or a Cherry payment plan.

Rai Family Dentistry has been serving Stafford County since 1999 from 239 Garrisonville Rd, Suite 102, a short drive from I-95 with free on-site parking. We see patients from Stafford, Aquia Harbour, Garrisonville, Falmouth, and Fredericksburg. To talk through replacing a missing tooth, call (540) 657-0867 or request a time online.