Bridges

Bridge

Dental bridges literally bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth.

  • A bridge is made up of two crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap – these two anchoring teeth are called abutment teeth – and a false tooth/teeth in between. These false teeth are called pontics and can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials. Dental bridges are supported by natural teeth or implants.

    What Are the Benefits of Dental Bridges?

    Bridges can:

    • Restore your smile
    • Restore your ability to properly chew and speak
    • Maintain the shape of your face
    • Distribute the forces in your bite properly by replacing missing teeth
    • Prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position

     

    What Types of Dental Bridges Are Available?: 

    Traditional bridgesinvolve creating a crown for the tooth or implant oneither side of the missing tooth, with a pontic in between. Traditional bridges are the most common type of bridge and are made of either porcelain fused to metal or ceramics.

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What Is the Process for Getting a Dental Bridge?

During the first visit for getting a dental bridge, the abutment teeth are prepared. Preparation involves re-contouring these teeth by removing a portion of enamel to allow room for a crown to be placed over them. Next, impressions of your teeth are made, which serve as a model from which the bridge, pontic, and crowns will be made by a local dental laboratory. Your dentist will make a temporary bridge for you to wear to protect the exposed teeth and gums while your bridge is being made.

During the second visit, your temporary bridge will be removed and the new permanent bridge will be checked and adjusted, as necessary, to achieve a proper fit. Multiple visits may be required to check the fit of the metal framework and bite. This is dependent on each individuals case. If the dental bridge is a fixed (permanent) bridge, your dentist may temporarily cement it in place for a couple of weeks to make sure it is fitting properly. After a couple weeks, the bridge is permanently cemented into place.

 

 

 Information from WebMD