Types of Dental Bridges at Big Sky Dentures & Implants

In this video, Dr. Jack Booth explains 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.

OUR DENTAL SERVICES

Missoula's Trusted Denture & Implant Specialists

Meet Our Dedicated Team

Dr. Jackson Booth - Big Sky Dentures & Implants in Missoula, MT

Dr. Jackson Booth
Dentist

Learn More
Remi Berube DD

Remi Berube DD
Denturist

Learn More
Kristen Berube DD

Kristen Berube DD
Denturist

Learn More

Hear What Our Patients Are Saying...

Eat, speak, and smile with confidence again

Read The Big Sky Dentures & Implants Blog

Learn about the services we provide, and the latest advancements in general, cosmetic, and implant dentistry.

Same-Day Denture Reline and Repairs in Missoula, MT

A denture becomes part of your routine quickly, which is why problems tend to show up in ordinary moments. It may slip while you are cleaning it. Maybe it sits differently than it used to, or one area starts taking more pressure than the rest. The denture may look the same, but something about its fit or function has [...]

3 Signs It May Be Time to Explore Denture Alternatives

You rarely wait for something to fail completely before you replace it. A smoke detector chirps long before the batteries die. Tires lose their grip before the tread disappears. Even small changes in your diet tend to follow a pattern. You notice discomfort, sluggishness, or results that no longer match the effort you put in. These signals exist for [...]

Managing Dental Anxiety With Support, Sedation, and Simple Tools

Dental anxiety and phobia both have the power to pull you away from the care you need, but they arise from two very different patterns. Anxiety spreads across many parts of life. It heightens everyday worry, stirs up “what if” thoughts, and keeps your body on alert even when nothing urgent is happening. A phobia takes a narrower path. [...]

How an Implant Dentist Strengthens Your Tooth Replacement Plan

The term “implant dentist” is one people hear, but what does it truly mean in oral care? Across different fields, some professionals focus on a single essential area. A cardiologist tracks the heart’s rhythm and circulation with a practiced eye, noticing details most of us would miss. An arborist reads the health of a tree through its bark, branches, [...]

Teeth Whitening and Tooth Replacement: Bringing Balance to Your New Smile

Teeth whitening is usually viewed as a cosmetic touch-up, but it has a much broader reach in dentistry. You do not need a full set of natural teeth to benefit from a brighter shade, and it is not limited to those seeking small refinements. We often incorporate whitening into broader treatment plans such as full-mouth reconstruction or smile makeovers [...]

How Custom Mouthguards Protect Your Teeth

Many people have small, unconscious habits that show up only while they sleep. Talking is a common example. Some people mumble, others carry on full conversations without any awareness of it. These behaviors rarely register because the person experiencing them is not awake to notice. Unless someone points it out. Other nighttime habits are less subtle because they leave [...]