Abbey Dental Practice

Dental Bridges

A dental bridge acts as an anchor to replace the missing teeth. False teeth are fixed between two dental crowns bridging them together. They are two crowns, with false teeth acting as a 'bridge' to join them up. This means large gaps in the mouth can be filled and maintains the alignment of the teeth.

Missing or crooked teeth can affect your smile, confidence and facial appearance. Missing teeth increase the chance of food accumulating in the gap, which may cause gum disease and tooth decay. A missing tooth may have an impact on bone loss unless replaced. In addition, it can also be uncomfortable when eating. Adjacent teeth start to lean into the space of the missing tooth and alter the way upper and lower teeth bite. Dental bridges or false teeth are recommended for a missing tooth or teeth.

What are the types of dental bridges?

There are 3 types of dental bridge.

• Traditional bridge (most popular type of dental bridge)
• Maryland bridge or Resin-bonded bridges
• Cantilever bridge

What are bridges made of?

Dental Bridges can be made from

• Porcelain
• Porcelain bonded to precious metal
• Alloy
• Gold
• Any combination of these materials

Dental Bridge Treatment Procedure

The dentist will give you a local anaesthetic prior to the procedure. The dentist will then start by preparing your teeth on either side of the gap as trimming is needed to accommodate the crown. The dentist will then take an impression of your teeth using special dental wax to make the mould. This mould will be sent to a dental laboratory to prepare the dental bridge and crowns. You will receive a temporary dental bridge until the permanent dental bridge is ready. The dentist will ensure that the natural colour of your teeth match the dental bridge. When the permanent dental bridge is ready, the temporary bridge will be removed and the bridge fitted.

Once you and the dentist are happy with the appearance of the bite and dental bridge fitting, the dentist will fit the bridge with a cement-like paste. This fitting will be in place for a few weeks to check if the bridge placement needs any changes or improvements. Finally, after a very close examination the dentist will cement the dental bridge permanently. If you take good care of your dental bridge hygienically and adopt good eating habits, your dental bridge may last for more than 10-15 years.