01 · Dental bridges
Restorative dentistry

Dental Bridges

A custom restoration that replaces missing teeth.

02 · What it is
What it is

Closing the gap, seamlessly.

A dental bridge replaces one or more missing teeth with a custom porcelain restoration that is fixed in place. The replacement tooth fills the space, while crowns on the teeth beside it anchor the bridge securely.

It is a time-tested way to restore the look of the smile and the natural rhythm of biting and chewing. Over a few weeks, the supporting teeth are prepared, the bridge is carefully crafted, and the final restoration is seated with a precise fit so it feels comfortable and blends beautifully with the surrounding teeth.

03 · The two phases

How a bridge comes together.

  1. i.

    Preparing the supporting teeth.

    The two teeth on either side of the gap are gently shaped to receive crowns — the anchors that will carry the bridge. Impressions or digital scans are taken, and a temporary bridge is placed so you leave with a complete smile while the final piece is being made.

  2. ii.

    Crafting and seating the bridge.

    A custom porcelain bridge is built in the lab to match the shape, shade, and translucency of the surrounding teeth. At the seating visit, the fit, bite, and contour are checked carefully — then the bridge is bonded into place as a single, lasting restoration.

04 · Implant vs bridge
Choosing

Two paths for a missing tooth.

Both are excellent restorations, chosen carefully for the situation.  The difference is in how the tooth is supported.

 
Implant
Bridge
How it's supported
Anchored by a titanium post placed into the jawbone — standing on its own, like the natural root.
Supported by the two teeth on either side, which are prepared to carry crowns linked to the replacement.
Adjacent teeth
Left untouched. The implant works independently of the teeth around it.
Reshaped to receive crowns and support the bridge.
Bone & gum
Preserves the jawbone beneath the site — the implant stimulates the bone the way a natural root does.
Bone beneath the missing tooth gradually recedes over time, with no root to keep it active.
Timeline
Staged over several months to allow the bone to integrate before the final crown is placed.
Completed in two to three visits over a few weeks — faster from start to finish.
Longevity
Designed to last decades — often a lifetime, with good care.
Typically lasts ten to fifteen years before replacement is considered.
Care at home
Brushed and flossed like a natural tooth.
Requires special flossing beneath the bridge to keep the supporting teeth healthy.
When it's right
A single missing tooth, healthy adjacent teeth, and sufficient bone — or a site that can be prepared for the long term.
Adjacent teeth that already need restoration, when a faster timeline matters, or when an implant isn't possible.
05 · Cosmetic consultation
Begin

Begin with a conversation.

Every relationship at Tillinger Dental begins with a conversation in our office on the Mount Sinai Medical Center Miami Beach. We would be glad to meet you.

Request an appointment→
Endnotes