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Losing a tooth can feel like a scary experience, and while some people like to embrace having a gap in their teeth, many people opt to try to restore their mouth to its original appearance. And dental bridges are one of the most effective and popular methods to do so.
Dental bridges can fill the gap that a lost or extracted tooth might create. The main problem is that these procedures are often expensive, especially if you don’t have insurance.
Let’s review how much one might expect to pay for a dental bridge with insurance or without it, as well as some easy ways to save hundreds on your next procedure.
What Is a Dental Bridge?
Having all of your teeth isn’t just important for being able to look your very best. It is also essential for being able to speak and eat properly. For that reason, when you lose a tooth, it’s usually a good idea to try to get it replaced.
Dental bridges fill the gap with one or more artificial teeth that look and feel just like your natural teeth. Bridges are usually made of dental crowns that fit on either side of the missing tooth, and then the pontic (false) tooth is cemented in place.
You can think of these like a real bridge. The anchor points are stuck to existing teeth on the sides, and then a false tooth lays in the middle, physically connecting the gaps.
Types of Dental Bridges
Four types of dental bridges are available. Which one you end up with will likely depend on your specific situation and the dentist’s recommendations.
- Traditional fixed bridge: This is the most common type of bridge that uses two or more crowns and a filler tooth in the middle. All adjacent teeth are connected to one another. These traditional dental bridges can be made of metal, porcelain fused to metal, or ceramics.
- Maryland dental bridge: Also known as a resin-bonded bridge, Maryland bridges are common in people who are missing their front teeth. It sort of looks like a flying bat, with a false tooth in the center and wing-like supports jutting out from the sides. These supports are attached to the backside of the supporting teeth.
- Cantilever bridge: With a cantilever bridge, the prosthetic tooth only connects to one abutment tooth (real tooth). This is a handy option for people who only have teeth on one side of wherever the gap lies, often in the back of the mouth near the back molars.
- Implant-supported bridge: This is similar to a traditional bridge, but it is held in place by implants rather than being cemented to existing teeth.
Why Do You Need a Dental Bridge?
Dental bridges are a welcome alternative to dental implants because they are much less costly. Additionally, it’s always a good idea to try to fill in a gap because your teeth are constantly shifting. If you leave a gap, surrounding teeth will move into the empty space, which can cause chewing difficulties, bite problems, and pain from the excess stress on your teeth and jaw, not to mention you’ll need more extensive dental treatment.
You might lose your teeth from all sorts of things, like trauma to the tooth. However, you might also need a tooth extraction if it is heavily damaged from something like tooth decay or gum disease. Either way, bridges are a great way to fill in the empty space and enhance your dental health.
How Much Does a Dental Bridge Cost?
The average cost of a dental bridge is reliant on a large number of factors. Mainly, the material used to make the bridge can affect its cost, but so can the health of the surrounding teeth.
Metals are a popular choice for dental crowns and bridges because they are extremely chip resistant. While they’re long-lasting, they don’t look like the surrounding natural teeth, which can make them look a little unsightly. Gold dental bridges tend to be the most expensive, ranging anywhere from $1,000 to $2,500.
On the other hand, composite/ resin bridges can blend in with surrounding teeth very well, and they are extremely natural-looking. The issue with them is that they are not as durable and will likely need to be replaced more frequently. These are usually anywhere from $500 to $1,500 out of pocket.
The number of teeth in the dental bridge can also contribute to the tooth bridge cost. You can expect to pay anywhere between $500 to a few thousand dollars per unit. This means that a three-unit bridge can cost at least $1,500.
Does Insurance Cover Dental Bridges?
No matter how you swing it, it’s clear that dental bridges can cost a lot of money. While dental bridges offer cosmetic benefits, they are not considered a purely cosmetic dentistry treatment. For that reason, most dental insurance plans will cover most or all of the costs associated with a dental bridge.
Keep in mind that even with an insurance policy, you still need to meet your deductible and pay monthly premiums, as well as annual fees. If the only procedure you get in a given year is a dental bridge, you might not really be saving much money in the long haul.
Not to mention, over 33% of people do not have dental benefits at all. This leaves nearly three-quarters of the country without easy access to the care they need, especially since you’ll be stuck paying the entire out-of-pocket cost if you are uninsured.
How To Afford Dental Bridges Without Insurance
The cost of dental bridges without insurance coverage is a major reason why so many people choose not to get them done. But you don’t need to let the price stop you.
Flossy is a pay-as-you-go service. With Flossy, you can save up to 50% on the out-of-pocket costs associated with dental care. No annual fees, no monthly premiums, and no membership fees — the price you see is the price you pay.
This means that you can save up to 50% on your dental bridge procedure without any insurance needed. And this goes for all services, from routine cleanings to cosmetic ones like teeth whitening.
Our team of dentists is rigorously vetted against a set of strict criteria to ensure high-quality service no matter what. It’s just one of the many ways that we are committed to helping your smile look better than ever.
There’s no waiting period, so find a dentist in your location today to get the treatment you need to feel and look your best.
Alternatives to Dental Bridges
Dental bridges aren’t the only way to improve the appearance of your mouth due to missing teeth. Several alternative tooth replacement options can help restore your smile.
Implants
Dental implants are small posts, usually made of titanium, and are implanted directly into the jawbone. This makes them necessary if the surrounding teeth near your gap are not strong enough to hold a bridge in place.
Implants are permanent and long-lasting, and they look just like your natural teeth. But they are a lot more expensive than bridges, usually starting at around $1,500 per tooth.
That doesn’t include the cost of extraction, which is often an extra $100 or more. Additionally, your dentist may recommend a bone graft to help support the implant, which can further raise the price.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are similar to bridges in that they are used to fill in the gaps where missing teeth once were. However, these differ in that they are removable, so you can take them out when you drink, eat, or sleep.
A dentist will help you decide if these might be better than bridges by examining the condition of your remaining teeth. Typically, these are used if your remaining teeth are not as structurally sound to hold onto a bridge.
In Conclusion
Dental bridges are a dentistry procedure that is used to fill in the gap caused by a missing tooth. They affix to teeth on either side of the gap with a false tooth in the middle, restoring the structure and function of the mouth.
Bridges are great, effective procedures, but they can be expensive without insurance. While most insurance companies cover the cost since they are not a cosmetic procedure, people without dental insurance are often left without care simply due to price.
The good news is that Flossy is here to make it easier for you to get access to dental care without breaking the bank. With no annual premiums or hidden fees, we’ve got you at up to 50% off treatment for traditional dental services, like whitening, root canals, and bridges.
Find a dentist and get started today.
Sources:
Dental Bridges: Who Needs Them, Types, Costs, Procedure & Care Issues | Cleveland Clinic