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Hours
Mon: Closed
Tues: 9:00AM-5:00PM
Wed: 7:00AM-5:00PM
Thurs: 9:00AM-5:00PM
Fri: 8:00AM-4:00PM
Sat: 8:00AM-3:00PM
A missing tooth leaving a gap in your smile? A dental bridge in Houston Heights fills it with a fixed, natural-looking tooth in two visits, anchored to the teeth on either side, so you can chew and smile without thinking about it.
A dental bridge replaces one to three missing teeth in a row with a fixed row of porcelain teeth, held in place by crowns on the teeth either side of the gap. At Lush Dental Heights in Houston, a bridge is scanned digitally, custom-made to match your smile, and fitted in two visits.
Why fill the gap at all: when a tooth is lost, the teeth beside it begin to drift into the space and the tooth above or below it over-erupts, which changes your bite and makes cleaning harder. A bridge keeps everything in place, restores your chewing, and brings back your smile, and because it is cemented in it does not move the way a removable partial denture can.
Types of bridges: a traditional bridge uses crowns on both neighboring teeth to hold the replacement tooth; a cantilever bridge anchors to a tooth on one side only; a Maryland bridge bonds small wings to the back of the neighboring teeth and is often used for a front tooth. An implant-supported bridge rests on dental implants instead of natural teeth, which spares the neighboring teeth and preserves the bone, but it does involve minor surgery and a longer timeline.
Bridge or implant? A bridge is faster, needs no surgery, and costs less up front, but the anchor teeth must be reshaped and the bone under the missing tooth will slowly shrink. An implant replaces the root, leaves the neighboring teeth untouched, and lasts longest, but takes several months. Which is better depends on the condition of the neighboring teeth, your bone, and your budget, and both are among the restorative dentistry options we will walk you through before you decide.
Cost and insurance: the cost depends on how many teeth the bridge replaces, the material (metal-free porcelain or zirconia versus porcelain on a metal frame), and any work needed first, such as a tooth extraction. Bridges that replace missing teeth are usually covered in part by dental insurance, and we accept most plans, including Aetna, Cigna, Delta Dental, Guardian, MetLife, and UnitedHealthcare. You get the cost at your consultation, and financing is available through Cherry, CareCredit, Sunbit, and HFD, pending approval.
We make bridges for patients from across Houston, including Garden Oaks, Greater Heights, and Rice Military. If you have lost a tooth to an injury or infection, our emergency dentist page explains how to be seen the same day.
A dental bridge can replace up to three missing teeth in a row, and a bridge supported by two implants can span a gap that natural teeth alone could not carry.
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You deserve affordable, accessible care. That is why we accept most dental insurance plans and offer financing through Cherry, CareCredit, Sunbit, and HFD, pending approval. Ready to work out a budget for your bridge? Reach out to our team to get the conversation started.
See real patient success stories.
A traditional bridge is a non-surgical treatment: the anchor teeth are reshaped, the bridge is made, and it is cemented in place. It is a good route if you would rather avoid implant surgery or your bone or health makes implants a poor fit. Only an implant-supported bridge involves surgery.
Unlike a partial denture, a bridge is cemented to your teeth, so there is nothing to take out at night, no clasps, and no movement when you eat or talk. With good care, a bridge typically lasts 10 to 15 years, often longer.
Filling the gap stops the neighboring teeth from drifting and the opposing tooth from over-erupting, which protects your bite and makes the area easier to keep clean. And the replacement tooth is shaded to match, so the gap simply disappears from your smile.
Dr. Noorian examines the gap and the teeth either side of it, reviews X-rays, and confirms a bridge is the right option rather than an implant or partial denture. If a tooth still needs to come out, that is planned first. A 3D intraoral scanner records your teeth, with no messy impression putty.
At the first treatment visit the area is numbed and the anchor teeth are reshaped so crowns can fit over them. A final scan captures the prepared teeth and your bite, photos record the shade, and the scan goes to our partner lab. You leave with a temporary bridge that protects the teeth and fills the gap in the meantime.
A couple of weeks later your custom bridge is back. We check the fit against the gums, the contact with the neighboring teeth, and your bite, make any small adjustments, and cement it permanently in place. We also show you how to clean under it so it lasts.
Both work well, and the right choice depends on your situation. A bridge is quicker, with no surgery and a lower up-front cost, and it makes sense when the neighboring teeth already need crowns. The trade-offs are that healthy anchor teeth must be reshaped and the bone under the gap slowly shrinks over the years.
A dental implant replaces the root as well as the tooth, so it preserves the bone and leaves the neighboring teeth untouched, and it usually lasts longest, but it takes several months and costs more initially. At your consultation we look at the neighboring teeth, your bone, and your budget and explain which we would choose for you.
A traditional bridge takes two visits about two weeks apart. At the first, the anchor teeth are prepared and scanned and a temporary bridge is fitted; at the second, the permanent bridge is checked and cemented. If a tooth needs to be extracted first, the gum is given time to heal before the bridge is made.
An implant-supported bridge takes longer, usually several months, because the implants need to fuse with the bone before the bridge can be attached to them.
A bridge is one piece, so ordinary floss cannot pass between the replacement tooth and the anchor teeth. Use a floss threader or super floss to slide floss under the bridge once a day, or a water flosser, which many patients find easier. Interdental brushes also work well for the gaps at either end.
Brush twice a day as normal, paying attention to the gum line around the anchor crowns, and keep up with cleanings and exams so we can check that the anchor teeth are staying decay-free. We will show you the technique at the fitting visit.
Yes. Like any dental restoration, a bridge can wear or chip over time from chewing, biting, and grinding. A small chip in the porcelain can sometimes be repaired in the mouth; a bridge that has come loose can often be cleaned and recemented if the anchor teeth underneath are still healthy.
Bridges typically last 10 to 15 years, and many last longer, but the usual reason one needs replacing is decay or gum disease in the anchor teeth rather than the bridge itself. Regular check-ups and careful cleaning under the bridge are what extend its life.
The cost is different for each patient. It depends on how many teeth the bridge replaces, the type of bridge and material, your oral health, and any treatment needed first, such as a tooth extraction or gum treatment. The accurate way to find out is a consultation, where we examine the gap and give you a quote for the complete treatment.
Bridges used to replace missing teeth are usually covered in part by dental insurance, and we are happy to help you check your plan. Financing is available through Cherry, CareCredit, Sunbit, and HFD, pending approval.
Most bridges are made from porcelain or zirconia, shaded to match your natural teeth. Some use a metal framework underneath the porcelain for extra strength on back teeth; metal-free zirconia bridges are strong enough for most situations and avoid the gray line at the gum that metal can cause.
Temporary bridges, worn while the lab makes your permanent one, are made of acrylic. Acrylic is not durable enough for a long-term bridge, which is why it is only used in the interim.
A dental bridge is a fixed, permanent restoration. It is cemented onto the anchor teeth and can only be removed by a dentist, and it typically lasts 10 to 15 years or longer with good care.
Keep in mind that preparing the anchor teeth for crowns is not reversible, since a layer of enamel is removed. If you would rather avoid that, an implant-supported option or a removable partial denture may suit you better, and we will go through all three at your consultation.
A bridge attaches one or more replacement teeth to your existing teeth so they are locked in place. In a traditional or cantilever bridge, the teeth beside the gap are fitted with crowns and the replacement tooth is fused between them; in a Maryland bridge, thin wings bonded to the back of the neighboring teeth hold the replacement tooth.
An implant-supported bridge works the same way but rests on implants placed in the jaw instead of on natural teeth. Whichever type you have, the bridge does not move or shift, so you can chew, talk, and smile as you would with your own teeth.
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