A dental bridge, also known as a ‘fixed bridge’, is a form of dental restoration that replaces missing teeth and gives the patient a beautiful, natural-looking smile.
A dental bridge, also known as a ‘fixed bridge’, is a form of dental restoration that replaces missing teeth and gives the patient a beautiful, natural-looking smile.
The process of correcting a gap with a bridge is similar to fitting a crown. Your dentist will review all the steps with you prior to beginning treatment.
What types of bridges are used for dental restoration work?
- Adhesive Bridges: These bridges are applied to the inside of the teeth surrounding the gap.
- Regular Bridges: Conventional bridges are supported by the teeth on either side of the gap. The teeth are shaped to support a unified bridge before being cemented to the bridge to create a fixed appliance. These bridges, which are typically either porcelain fused to metal or ceramic, can be made of tooth-coloured materials.
- Resin-Attached Bridges: Resin-attached bridges are most often used to replace a single front tooth. An adhesive ‘wing’ attaches them to an adjacent tooth. Unlike conventional bridges, this type requires little tooth modification prior to placement.
- Implant-Retained Bridges: These bridges use dental implants to achieve a natural-looking restorative result.
How are bridges applied?
Bridge application is a two-visit process. During your first appointment, your abutment teeth are recontoured to make room for crowns. Then your dentist will make impressions of your teeth to serve as a model for making the pontic (replacement tooth), crowns, and bridge. To protect your exposed teeth and gums in the interim, you will be fitted with a temporary bridge.
During the second appointment, the temporary bridge will be removed and replaced with the new, permanent one. Your dentist may cement it temporarily in place to ensure that the metal framework fits correctly and does not affect your bite, and then cement it permanently a couple of weeks later.
How long will a bridge last?
With proper care, your dental bridge will last five to 15 years. It is important to remember that bridges require consistently high levels of care and oral hygiene: the area beneath the appliance must be kept clean to prevent decay. Your dentist will instruct you on proper care of your new bridge to ensure that the surrounding teeth stay healthy.
