Modern dental bridges are much more than whole fillers. They maintain the vertical distance between upper and lower jaws, which decreases with tooth loss, making people look older. A bridge restores proper chewing ability, and protects teeth in the opposing arch from drifting. If one tooth is missing, the two teeth on either side are used to support a false tooth. The support teeth are called abutments, and the false tooth is a pontic. So, we must prepare cast metal crowns or an all porcelain restoration for more than just the missing tooth. To replace one tooth, a three unit bridge is necessary. That's why we advocate early treatment of any condition where a bridge is indicated. Delaying treatment until more teeth are involved will add to your expense. Replacing two teeth may require a five or more unit bridge.
The care, skill and judgment necessary to prepare teeth and restore proper function are among the most demanding requirements in modern dentistry. We must first plan for your restoration, diagnosing and treating not just the teeth, but the gums and supporting structures. Proper mechanical design employs a knowledge of engineering principles and biologic constraints. Prior to the appointment for bridge preparation, we must have proper x-rays, models of the area, sterilized instruments, laboratory equipment, impression trays, all of the materials which may be used, including those contingency items which may be required if something unusual is found. Then you have a lengthy appointment which requires the services of the the entire team, not just the doctor. The abutment teeth are prepared to allow a bridge to fit precisely. Then accurate impressions and registrations of the teeth and jaws and your individual jaw motions are made.
Following your appointment, we must work in our laboratory, preparing the impressions to construct working models of the preparations. Then models are delivered to the laboratory technician who begins the careful, highly technical task of modeling the bridge in wax to begin the process of lost wax casting. This may take several weeks. Your bridge must fit to precise tolerances. A large part of the fee is for the dental laboratory and the technicians you never see, as well as for the materials used. Before your bridge is fitted and cemented in your mouth, it must be checked and adjusted on our instruments. You then have another appointment which requires our team to fit, adjust, cement and polish your bridge. So you see we don't just buy a ready made bridge and sell it. Everything is hand made to your unique requirements. It must fit precisely, stand up to hundreds of pounds of force, stay glued under water, look like real teeth and be comfortable. And it must last.
Insurance companies usually have schedules stating the maximum they pay for bridges. These are arbitrary allowances determined by negotiators and may only cover a small percentage of your fee. These fees, called UCR fees, have nothing to do with our custom services. We are not providing bare essentials, this is our best and finest service - not trying to save an insurance company money. We urge you to discuss costs before you begin.
Dr James A Miller, Aesthetic Dentist - Providing cosmetic dentistry, dental implants and smile artistry to the areas of Hillsboro and Portland, Oregon.
Hillsboro aesthetic dentistry
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