Bridges
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Made either from porcelain fused to a metal base or from all-ceramic, conventional bridges work by using the teeth on either side of the gap and placing crowns on them, to which a replacement tooth is attached. A simpler design of bridge called a cantilever bridge, supported using only one natural tooth is sometimes used. The bridge is first made in the dental laboratory, slotted over the abutment teeth, then held in place by friction and special adhesives.
Another option, which is minimally invasive, is an adhesive bridge. This has ‘wings’ that are bonded to the back of the supporting teeth, with very little tooth substance needing to be removed with a drill.
It is important to replace missing teeth, not just because gaps can really affect your smile and confidence, but also because it prevents the remaining teeth from shifting out of position, causing alignment issues in the bite.
Bridges are an alternative to partial dentures, but can’t be removed by you, so feel much more secure and natural. Bridges can also be used in combination with implants to replace more than one missing tooth.
Firstly we assess you to make sure that the teeth that will support the bridge are healthy and strong enough. Using x-rays we check whether there is enough bone around the roots of the abutment teeth.
The teeth are then prepared by removing a layer from around the whole tooth. Local anaesthetic will be required, just like when a filling is done. The procedure will take longer than your usual filling appointment.
Impressions are taken of the prepared teeth and a registration of how the jaw moves is recorded. This information, along with the shade, is then sent to the dental laboratory. Once the laboratory has constructed the framework of the bridge, this is usually tried in the mouth, to ensure the fit is correct, before it goes back to the laboratory for completion. While your bridge is being custom-made, we provide you with a temporary plastic bridge which will protect the prepared teeth and allow you to smile, talk and eat.
When ready, the bridge is checked and adjusted to make sure it fits perfectly, then only once you and the dentist are happy with the appearance is it finally fixed in place using strong dental cement.
Excellent oral hygiene is essential to ensure the longevity of your bridge. It is especially important to clean under the false tooth, using ‘Superfloss’ or small brushes, along with your usual brushing and flossing routine. Our dentist or hygienist will show you how to do this and will go over this again with you at your check-up visits.
Providing bridges are well looked after, and that includes keeping the surrounding teeth healthy so they can continue to provide a solid foundation, they should last for over ten years.
Yes, you should have no issues eating normally with a bridge. It is fixed in place, allowing you to bite into food securely, confident that it will not slip or move.
While a bridge is a very effective solution for replacing a single missing tooth, it can also be used to restore a gap of up to four teeth. If you are missing multiple teeth, we will discuss all available options with you before deciding if a bridge is the best choice.
