Bridges

A bridge is a dental restoration that fills a space of a missing tooth. A bridge may be necessary to prevent:

  • Shifting of the teeth that can lead to bite problems (occlusion) and/or jaw problems and resultant periodontal disease.
  • Bridges safeguard the integrity of existing teeth and help maintain a healthy, vibrant smile.

There are three main types of bridges, namely:

  • Fixed bridge- this is the most popular and consists of a filler tooth that is attached to two crowns, which fit over the existing teeth and hold the bridge in place.
  • The “Maryland” bridge is commonly used to replace missing front teeth and consists of a filler that is attached to metal bands that are bonded to the abutment teeth. The metal bands consist of a white-colored composite resin that matches existing tooth color.
  • The Cantilever bridge is often used when there are teeth on only one side of the span. A typical three-unit cantilever bridge consists of two crowned teeth positioned next to each other on the same side of the missing tooth space. The filler tooth is then connected to the two crowned teeth, which extend into the missing tooth space or end.
bridges

A dental bridge is a false tooth that is attached to two crowns to fill in the spaces from missing teeth. Having one or more missing teeth can adversely affect the appearance of your smile, cause problems with your occlusion (bite) and cause other teeth to shift and increase the risk for periodontal disease.

Bridges can be made from different materials ranging from gold to porcelain.

Dental Bridge Process

  • The First Visit: Supporting teeth are prepared. If these teeth are badly broken down, they may need to be built back up in order to provide proper support. Then an impression is taken which will be sent to a skilled lab technician, who fabricates a bridge to fit precisely over the supporting teeth. You will wear a temporary bridge untill the permanent bridge is ready.

  • The Second Visit: Return to have the bridge fitted and cemented. Proper dental hygiene and dental check-ups will help your bridges last for many years.