Missing a tooth? A bridge fills the gap with a fixed tooth that looks natural. We compare a bridge and an implant with you, in writing, so you can choose.
$2,500 3-unit bridge · made in our own lab
Exact price confirmed after your exam.
Get my free consultOr call (786) 579-0521We check the teeth on each side and compare a bridge with an implant.
We shape the side teeth and scan. No goopy molds.
Your bridge is made in our lab and fitted to your bite.
Dr. Aakash Rana, DDS, plans your care himself and explains every step in plain words. Your price is in writing before anything starts.
Tap to watch. Individual results vary.
A bridge literally bridges a gap. The replacement tooth in the middle is called a pontic. It is joined to supports on one or both sides, called abutments, which are usually crowns on your natural teeth or on dental implants. The whole piece is made as one unit and cemented or screwed in place, so it doesn't come out at home.
Bridges are described by the number of units. The most common is a three-unit bridge: two crowns on the neighboring teeth with one false tooth between them, replacing a single missing tooth. Longer bridges can replace two or more teeth in a row, as long as the supports are strong enough to carry the load.
Why fill the gap at all? When a tooth is missing, the teeth beside it tend to tip into the space, and the tooth above or below it can drift toward it. Over time that can change your bite, open spaces where food packs in, and make the area harder to clean. Our article on ignoring a missing tooth explains what usually happens next.
Not every gap calls for the same design. These are the main options Dr. Rana considers:
The most common type. The teeth on both sides of the gap are reshaped and covered with crowns, and the false tooth is attached between them. It is strong and well proven. The tradeoff is that enamel has to be removed from the anchor teeth, which is permanent. It makes the most sense when those neighbors already have large fillings or old crowns that would benefit from coverage anyway.
When three or more teeth in a row are missing, two or more implants can serve as the anchors instead of natural teeth. Your healthy teeth are left alone, and the implants load the jawbone the way roots do. It needs enough bone, a minor surgery and a healing period of a few months before the final bridge is attached, and it usually costs more than a traditional bridge.
A false tooth with thin wings, made of metal or ceramic, that are bonded to the backs of the neighboring teeth. Very little enamel is removed. It is mostly used for front teeth, where biting forces are lighter, and it can be a good fit for younger people waiting on an implant or for someone who doesn't want healthy teeth trimmed. The bond can come loose, especially with a heavy bite or grinding, and it isn't suitable for every gap, so we only suggest it when your bite and teeth allow.
A false tooth supported from one side only. It is used in limited situations, usually toward the front of the mouth, because the single anchor carries all the force. We use it sparingly and explain why if we think it fits.
| Traditional | Implant-supported | Maryland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Held by | Crowns on natural teeth | Dental implants | Wings bonded to neighboring teeth |
| Healthy teeth trimmed? | Yes, both neighbors | No | Very little |
| Surgery | No | Yes | No |
| Typical use | One or two missing teeth | Three or more missing teeth in a row | Mostly a front tooth with a light bite |
| Relative cost | Middle | Highest | Usually lowest |
For a single missing tooth, the usual choice is between a three-unit bridge and a single dental implant. Both can work well for many years. They differ in what they ask of your other teeth, your bone and your calendar.
A single implant replaces the root as well as the tooth, stands on its own, and leaves the neighboring teeth untouched. At Prana, a single implant starts from $1,999, including the implant, abutment and crown, with the exact price confirmed in writing before treatment. It needs enough healthy bone, a minor surgery and usually a few months of healing before the final crown. Read more on our dental implants page.
A bridge needs no surgery and is usually finished in a few weeks. It can be the more sensible choice when:
The long-term picture matters too. A bridge depends on its anchor teeth, so if one of them develops decay or a cracked root, the whole bridge is affected. An implant has its own risks, such as gum infection around it if it isn't kept clean. Our guide to implant vs bridge cost compares the two over time. If several teeth are missing on different sides of the mouth, a removable partial can also make sense; see our page on dentures.
An exam, a digital 3D scan of your teeth and bite, and a smile preview. We look at the gap, the teeth around it and your gums, and talk through whether a bridge, an implant or another option fits you. X-rays are a separate step, and their cost is confirmed with you before they are taken.
A bridge is only as healthy as what holds it. If an anchor tooth has decay, it is treated first. If a tooth needs a root canal, that is done before the bridge. If your gums are inflamed or measuring deep, we treat that first, because a bridge placed on unhealthy gums is harder to keep clean; see gum disease treatment.
The area is numbed with local anesthetic. For a traditional bridge, the anchor teeth are reshaped so the crowns can fit over them. Then we take a digital scan instead of the putty impressions many people remember, which most patients find much more comfortable. Our article on 3D scanning vs impressions explains how that works. We match the shade to your natural teeth and fit a temporary bridge so you don't leave with a gap.
Your bridge is designed and made by our in-house lab, working directly with Dr. Rana. That makes it easier to fine-tune shape and shade, and to make changes quickly if something needs adjusting. We give you the timeline at the preparation visit; it depends on the design and material, and we don't promise same-day bridges.
The temporary comes off and the final bridge is tried in. We check the fit at the gumline, the color, how it feels against your tongue and how your teeth meet when you bite and slide. Once you are both happy, it is cemented in place. Small bite adjustments are normal at this stage.
Many people get used to a new bridge within a few days. If your bite feels high, or a tooth stays sensitive after the first week or two, come back for a quick check. A small adjustment usually solves it.
The false tooth sits on the gum rather than in it, so regular floss can't slide down between it and its neighbors. Food and plaque collect under the pontic and around the edges of the crowns, and that is where most bridge problems start. Daily care looks like this:
With good care and regular checkups, many bridges last a decade or more, and some much longer. How long yours lasts depends on the health of the anchor teeth, your gums, your bite, whether you grind, and how well the area is cleaned. Nobody can honestly promise you a number.
Bridges rarely fail because the porcelain wears out. More often, decay starts at the edge of an anchor crown, gum disease weakens the support, or an anchor tooth cracks. Signs worth a visit include:
Many people come to us with a bridge that is 15 or 20 years old and showing its age: a dark line at the gumline, a chip, a gap where food traps, or a dentist who mentioned decay underneath. Replacing it usually means carefully cutting the old bridge off, cleaning up the anchor teeth and checking what is left.
The honest part is that the condition of the anchors can't be fully known until the old bridge is off. Sometimes they are healthy and a new bridge goes right back on. Sometimes an anchor needs a filling, a build-up or a root canal first. Occasionally a tooth can't be saved, and the plan changes to a longer bridge, an implant-supported bridge, or implants. We explain these possibilities before we start, and if the plan changes once the bridge is off, you get the updated price in writing before we go further.
Old bridge, new bridge, or something else? Sometimes the gap that made sense to bridge years ago is now better suited to an implant, especially if an anchor tooth is failing. We lay out the options side by side.
Dr. Rana is a general dentist. He plans and places bridges himself and works with our in-house lab on every one. If an implant-supported bridge needs bone grafting or complex surgery, we refer you to an oral surgeon. If anchor teeth have advanced gum disease, we may refer you to a periodontist, and a difficult root canal on an anchor tooth may go to an endodontist. When that happens, we tell you why and send your records so you don't repeat steps.
We don't publish a bridge price, because the range of bridges is wide and a number without your mouth in front of us would be a guess. Your exact price is confirmed in writing before any treatment. These are the things that move it:
When you compare a bridge with an implant, think about the cost over time, not only the first bill. A bridge that lasts many years can be money well spent, while one built on weak anchors may need replacing sooner. We give you itemized prices for each option so you can compare them fairly.
Most major dental insurance is accepted here. Many plans treat bridges as a major service, which usually means a lower coverage percentage, a deductible first and sometimes a waiting period before it applies. Annual maximums, often in the $1,000 to $2,000 range, can cover only part of a bridge, especially if other work is needed in the same year. Some plans cover a bridge differently from an implant. We check your benefits for you and show you what your plan is expected to pay before you decide.
For the rest, 0% financing is available on approved credit through CareCredit, Cherry and LendingClub. See our financing options.
Prana Dental is at 3050 Biscayne Blvd, Suite 703, right on Biscayne Blvd at NE 30th St in Edgewater. Use the building parking or street parking. From Wynwood and Midtown it is usually about 5 to 10 minutes east, and from Brickell, Downtown and Miami Beach it is a straightforward drive, depending on traffic. We see patients Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm, in English or Spanish. Find maps and directions on our contact page.
Dr. Aakash Rana, DDS is a general dentist trained at NYU College of Dentistry, with more than $100,000 in continuing education. He plans and treats each case at Prana Dental himself, works with our in-house lab, and refers to a specialist when a case needs one.
Many bridges last a decade or more with good care, and some last much longer. The lifespan depends mostly on the health of the anchor teeth and gums, your bite, and how well you clean under the bridge. Decay at the edge of an anchor crown is the most common reason a bridge has to be replaced.
Neither is right for everyone. An implant leaves the neighboring teeth untouched and stands on its own, but it needs enough bone, a minor surgery and a few months of healing. A bridge needs no surgery and is faster, and it can make more sense when the neighboring teeth already need crowns. We show you both options with written prices.
The teeth are numbed before they are prepared, so most people feel pressure rather than pain. Afterward the anchor teeth and gums may be sore or sensitive to cold for a few days. If you get nervous at the dentist, ask us about oral sedation.
Use a floss threader or super floss to pass floss under the false tooth every day, then clean the sides of each anchor tooth. A water flosser and small interdental brushes help too. Brushing twice a day and regular professional cleanings protect the edges of the crowns from decay.
A traditional bridge most often replaces one or two teeth in a row. Longer spans put more stress on the anchor teeth, so for three or more missing teeth an implant-supported bridge or a partial denture is often the safer choice. The right answer depends on your bite and the health of the supports.
Gum disease should be treated and under control first. A bridge on inflamed gums or weakened bone is harder to clean and more likely to run into problems. Once the gums are stable, a bridge is often still possible.
Many dental plans cover bridges as a major service, usually at a lower percentage after the deductible, and some have waiting periods. Annual maximums often limit how much of the cost the plan pays in one year. We check your benefits for you and give you the exact price in writing before treatment.
Missing a tooth? Call or text (786) 579-0521 and start with a free exam, 3D scan and smile preview.