Does Getting a Dental Bridge Require Filing down Healthy Adjacent Teeth?
Yes, a traditional dental bridge requires filing down the healthy adjacent teeth. We must reshape these teeth to serve as anchors (called abutments) for the crowns that support your new artificial tooth. This is a necessary step in the procedure to ensure the bridge stays securely in place.
Because this process permanently alters those adjacent teeth, we treat each patient as we would our own family by discussing the long-term implications. While bridges are a reliable tooth replacement solution, the reshaping of natural teeth can increase the risk of future decay or damage if they are not maintained properly.
Research has shown that biological complications—such as cavities and gum disease on these anchor teeth—are the most common reasons for bridge failure over time. To protect your smile, we provide personalized dental solutions and coaching on how to clean under the bridge effectively. If you prefer to leave your adjacent teeth untouched, we can also discuss dental implants, which are independent and do not require filing down neighboring teeth.
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