Fountain Valley patients drive 10 to 15 minutes west on Heil or Warner to Safari Dentistry and Implants in Huntington Beach for dental bridges. The office prices a bridge and an implant side by side at the same consultation, so the choice is made on facts about your own teeth rather than on what one office happens to offer.
How a bridge is made at Safari
A bridge takes two visits about two weeks apart. Fountain Valley patients leave the first visit with a temporary bridge, so there is no gap while the final one is made.
- Exam, X-ray and plan. The anchor teeth, gums and bite are checked, a bridge and an implant are priced side by side, and the fee is written down.
- Preparation and scan. The anchor teeth are shaped under local anesthetic, an intraoral scan is taken, the shade is matched, and a temporary bridge is fitted.
- Fitting. The final zirconia or ceramic bridge is tried in, the bite is adjusted and it is cemented.
- Follow-up. A short check after a week or two, and a lesson on cleaning under the bridge with a floss threader or water flosser.
Replacing an old or failing bridge
Bridges last 10 to 15 years, and many Fountain Valley patients come in with one that has come loose, chipped, or has decay under a crown. If the anchor teeth are still sound, a new bridge is made. If one of them cannot be saved, the periodontist can remove it, graft the socket, and plan implants to carry the new teeth, all in this office. See crowns, bridges and dentures for the other options.
Why Fountain Valley patients choose Safari for a dental bridge
A common Fountain Valley visit is a second opinion: another office recommended an implant, or a bridge, and the patient wants to know whether the other option was ever considered. Because a periodontist places implants here and the same team makes bridges, neither one is being sold. You see the X-ray, hear what the neighboring teeth need, and get both fees in writing.
How much is a dental bridge near Fountain Valley?
The cost depends on the number of units and the material: zirconia for back teeth that take heavy chewing, layered ceramic for front teeth where appearance matters most. A bonded front-tooth bridge costs less than a traditional one. Every option is quoted in writing at the consultation, insurance benefits are checked first, and payment plans cover what a plan does not.
What to bring to your first visit from Fountain Valley
- Any recent X-rays, or the old bridge if it has come out.
- Your insurance card or Medi-Cal Dental member number; benefits and any missing-tooth clause are checked before the plan is priced.
- The date the tooth was lost or is due to be removed; some plans ask for it.
- Any implant quote you already have, so a bridge and an implant can be compared line by line.
Getting to the office from Fountain Valley
Safari Dentistry and Implants is at 16511 Goldenwest St, Unit 101, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, about 4 miles from Fountain Valley and usually 10 to 15 minutes by car. From Fountain Valley take Heil Ave or Warner Ave west across Newland, Beach Blvd and Gothard to Goldenwest St. The office sits at the corner of Goldenwest and Heil. From the Mile Square Park side, Brookhurst north to Heil and then west is the simplest route.
- Hours: Monday to Thursday, 10 AM to 4 PM. Same-day emergency time is held each open day.
- Parking: free, in the lot at the door, with a level entrance.
- Patients come from: the Mile Square Park neighborhoods, Green Valley, the Talbert Ave corridor near Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and the Brookhurst and Warner area.