Types of Dental Bridges at Big Sky Dentures & Implants
Learn about two common ways to replace a missing tooth and why one option often does a better job of protecting your natural teeth long term.
A dental bridge is one option for replacing a missing tooth. Instead of placing an implant, the two healthy teeth next to the gap are shaped down, and three connected crowns are made: one crown for each support tooth and a false tooth in the middle to fill the space. Bridges can be longer than three units, but the three-crown version is the most common.
The alternative is a single dental implant. With an implant, you don’t have to touch the neighboring teeth at all. A small implant is placed in the bone where the missing tooth was, and a crown is built on top of it. You keep the surrounding teeth intact, and you can floss between them just like natural teeth.
For most patients, an implant is the preferred option because it’s the closest replacement to a natural tooth and avoids removing healthy tooth structure. It preserves the teeth on either side and functions more like what you originally had.
If you or someone you love is struggling with missing or damaged teeth, contact Big Sky Dentures & Implants in Missoula, MT, for a consultation to learn how our life-changing treatments can enhance your smile, improve your function, and restore your self-confidence.
Broken dentures can leave you wondering what to do with the rest of your day. At Big Sky Dentures & Implants, we offer same-day denture repair in Missoula so you can have the damage evaluated quickly and, in many cases, have the repair completed that same day. Our Missoula office also serves denture wearers who travel from the Bitterroot [...]
Dentist anxiety is far more common than many people realize. In fact, recent research conducted at the University of Utah reports that 50% to 80% of adults in the United States experience some degree of dental anxiety. But what makes someone anxious about dental care can look very different from one person to the next. In the same study, [...]
Loose dentures pose a common problem for denture wearers, but did you know they don’t all become loose for the same reason? Your denture can change with years of daily wear, while your gums and jaw continue to change after your denture is made. What feels like the same loose fit can have very different causes. At Big Sky [...]
If you have started comparing dentures cost, you have probably noticed that the numbers can vary quite a bit. There is a reason for that. The price reflects the kind of denture you need, the condition of your mouth today, and the care required to get you into your new teeth. A useful estimate should tell the story of [...]
Patients from Anaconda and communities across Deer Lodge County come to Big Sky Dentures & Implants for dentures, extractions, and help replacing missing teeth. As a Medicaid dentist in Anaconda and the surrounding areas, we accept Montana Medicaid for eligible denture and extraction services, as well as many dental insurance plans. Our decision to accept Medicaid comes from personal experience. [...]
Sedation dentistry can ease the tension that grows around a dental visit, especially if past experiences have made it difficult to relax in the chair. Think back to being a kid the night before something you were excited about. You went to bed thinking about it, aware of the time, waiting for morning to arrive. Then you fell asleep, [...]