Bridges

A traditional bridge is made of two or more connected crowns with one or more artificial teeth, called pontics, suspended between them. The crowns are cemented onto the healthy teeth bordering the gap, which are known as abutment teeth. Once placed, the bridge is held in position permanently, so you don't take it out at night or soak it the way you would a partial denture.

We also offer implant-supported bridges, which rest on dental implants instead of natural teeth. This option makes sense when several teeth in a row are missing, when the neighboring teeth are healthy and we'd rather not reshape them, or when there simply aren't teeth on both sides of the space to serve as anchors. Because we place dental implants here and also provide bone grafting and sinus lift surgery when the jaw needs additional support, we can map out the full plan in one place rather than sending you back and forth between offices.

The right choice depends on the gap itself, the strength of the surrounding teeth, your gum health, and your budget. We'll walk through the trade-offs with you honestly, including how a bridge compares with a single implant, a partial denture, or an implant-supported denture.

Good candidates generally have healthy teeth on either side of the gap and gums that are free of active disease. If gum disease is present, we treat it first — through scaling and root planing, periodontal maintenance, or more involved periodontal care — because a bridge cemented over unstable foundations won't hold up. Likewise, if an abutment tooth is cracked or deeply decayed, it may need a filling, root canal therapy, or crown lengthening before it can carry the load.

Bridges help in a wide range of everyday situations: a molar lost to a fracture years ago, a front tooth knocked out in an accident, a tooth extracted because decay went too far, or an old bridge that has loosened and needs replacement. We see patients of all ages for these concerns, and because we accept patients without a referral across our restorative and surgical services, you can start the conversation here without an extra step.

A few things worth knowing before you commit:

• A traditional bridge requires reshaping the two adjacent teeth so crowns can fit over them.
• Bridges are cleaned differently than natural teeth — floss threaders or a water flosser are used to clean beneath the pontic.
• An implant-supported bridge takes longer overall because implants need time to integrate with the bone.
• Nitrous oxide sedation and oral sedation are available if dental anxiety is a factor.
• Our on-site dental lab shortens lab turnaround and keeps adjustments in-house.

Insurance, Payment, And Scheduling

We accept all major PPO insurance plans and file claims as a general practice, which simplifies paperwork across restorative, surgical, and periodontal treatment. We welcome self-pay and cash patients, and flexible payment plans are available so a larger restorative case can be spread out over time. Before treatment begins, we'll go over the estimate with you so there are no surprises.

Our team has cared for families in Ocala for more than 30 years, and we see patients from Belleview, Silver Springs, Summerfield, Dunnellon, Lady Lake, The Villages, Marion Oaks, and throughout Marion County. If you're living with a gap in your smile — or an older bridge that isn't working the way it used to — we'd be glad to take a look and talk through your options. Call Ocala Dental Care to schedule your consultation with Dr. Salifu or Dr. Geris.