Dental Bridges
All of your teeth play an important role in speaking, chewing and in maintaining proper overall alignment of your teeth. If you lose teeth, they must be replaced to maintain proper function of your mouth. Dental bridges are a great way to replace missing teeth.
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What is a Dental Bridge?
A bridge is a device that literally bridges the gap created by one or more missing teeth. It attaches artificial teeth, called pontics, to adjacent natural teeth, called abutment teeth. Dental bridges are either permanently attached (fixed bridges), or they can be removable. Fixed dental bridges are applied by either placing crowns on the abutment teeth or by bonding the artificial teeth directly to the abutment teeth. Removable bridges are attached to the teeth with metal clasps or by precision attachments. |
Dental Bridge
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Patient Experience
The process of creating a bridge begins by creating abutments out of your existing teeth where the bridge will be attached. 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 the teeth are made, which serve as a model from which the bridge, pontic and crowns will be made by our dental lab.
You will be fitted with a temporary bridge while we wait for the lab to craft your permanent bridge. This will protect the abutments and the exposed gum areas and look more appealing than having a missing tooth. When the permanent bridge has been created, you will have a follow up visit to set the bridge. It will be placed on the abutments and we will then use an adhesive to make sure that the bridge is set.
The bridge may take a little while to get used to, but after a few days it should feel like you have your own teeth back again. You should eat soft foods for the first few days after having your bridge placed. After the initial phase, you will be able to eat whatever you want with no issues.
If you are missing a tooth you should strongly consider having it replaced. Besides the aesthetic disadvantage of missing a tooth, it could also cause structural changes to your mouth and jaw as well as making it difficult to eat or speak properly.
The process of creating a bridge begins by creating abutments out of your existing teeth where the bridge will be attached. 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 the teeth are made, which serve as a model from which the bridge, pontic and crowns will be made by our dental lab.
You will be fitted with a temporary bridge while we wait for the lab to craft your permanent bridge. This will protect the abutments and the exposed gum areas and look more appealing than having a missing tooth. When the permanent bridge has been created, you will have a follow up visit to set the bridge. It will be placed on the abutments and we will then use an adhesive to make sure that the bridge is set.
The bridge may take a little while to get used to, but after a few days it should feel like you have your own teeth back again. You should eat soft foods for the first few days after having your bridge placed. After the initial phase, you will be able to eat whatever you want with no issues.
If you are missing a tooth you should strongly consider having it replaced. Besides the aesthetic disadvantage of missing a tooth, it could also cause structural changes to your mouth and jaw as well as making it difficult to eat or speak properly.
