Dental Bridges

At Perfect Smile, we understand that your smile is more than just how you look. It also affects how you feel and act.

A single imperfect tooth, even if it is only slightly damaged, can have a severe impact on your self-confidence, stopping you from smiling and talking easily. An imperfect smile can also limit your personality and your ability to interact with others, stopping you from living your life as you want to.

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What are Dental Bridges?

A Bridge is commonly made up of two crowns for the teeth, one 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.

The benefits of Dental Bridges:

  • 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.
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How Do I Care for a Bridge?

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Brushing and Flossing

Brushing twice a day and flossing regularly helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease that can lead to tooth loss. Your dentist or dental hygienist can demonstrate how to properly brush and floss your teeth.

Keep a Cleaning Schedule

Keeping a regular cleaning schedule will help diagnose problems at an early stage when treatment has a better prognosis.

Balanced Diet for Proper Nutrition

Maintaining a balanced diet is essential for getting proper nutrition.

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FAQs

How much do dental bridges cost?

The cost of the bridge depends on the type of bridge selected and the material used.

Will it be difficult to eat with a dental bridge in-place?

Replacing missing teeth with a dental bridge should actually make eating easier. Until you become accustomed to the bridge, eat soft foods that have been cut into small pieces.

How do I care for a bridge?

It is important to keep your remaining teeth healthy and strong as the success of the bridge (depending on the type selected) depends on the solid foundation offered by the surrounding teeth. Brushing twice a day and flossing daily helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease that can lead to tooth loss. Your dentist or dental hygienist can demonstrate how to properly brush and floss your teeth. Keeping a regular cleaning schedule will help diagnose problems at an early stage when treatment has a better prognosis. Selecting a balanced diet for proper nutrition is also important.

There are alternatives to a fixed bridge including an adhesive bridge (which is less intrusive) partial dentures and implants. All have pros and cons so please give our friendly staff a call for more advice.

How long does a dental bridge last?

Dental bridges can last from 5 to 15 years or even longer. With good oral hygiene and regular check-ups, it is not unusual for the life span of a fixed bridge to be well over 15 years.

Will the dental bridge change how I speak?

It can be difficult to speak clearly when teeth are missing in the front or anterior areas. Wearing a dental bridge with the anterior teeth in their proper relationship will help you speak properly.

Treatment Types

Traditional

  • This is the most common type of bridge and is used when the missing tooth is in the middle of two other teeth. The crowns are fixed onto the healthy teeth on either side, securing the false tooth into the middle.

Cantilever

  • This dental bridge is used when the missing tooth is on one side of healthy teeth. It works in the same way as a traditional bridge, except the crowns are fixed to the one tooth next to your missing one.

Maryland-bonded

  • This dental bridge is great for missing front teeth. Instead of using crowns, the dental bridge secures your missing tooth in place by bonding a metal framework to the back of your healthy teeth either side of the gap.
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How do Dental Bridges Work?

1

Initial Consultation

During the first visit for getting a dental bridge, the abutment teeth are prepared. Preparation involves recontouring these teeth by removing a portion of enamel to allow room for a crown to be placed over them.

2

Taking Measurements

Next, impressions of your teeth are made, which serve as a model form which the bridge, pontic and crowns will be made by a 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.

3

Explaining the Procedure

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.

4

Fitting your Bridge

This is dependent on each individual’s 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.

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