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.
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.
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.