Teeth bridge

What are dental bridges?

When you have one or more missing teeth, then a dental bridge may be used to restore the resulting gaps. The dental bridge is basically a false tooth, beautifully created from porcelain that fills the gap and is supported by adjacent teeth or implants.

One of the most crucial skills in the placement of a dental bridge is to create the illusion that the missing tooth emerges from gum just a natural tooth. Our skills in cosmetic dentistry, gum manipulation and our in-house implantologist can combine ensure no-one will know that you ever had a missing tooth!

There are several types of bridge:

1. Traditional Fixed Dental Bridge

Here the “false tooth” is fused between two porcelain crowns to fill the gap left by a missing tooth. There are two crowns holding it in place attached onto your teeth either side of the false tooth. This type of dental bridge can be used to replace one or more missing teeth.

2. Cantilever Dental Bridge

In areas of your mouth that are under less stress, such as your front teeth, a cantilever dental bridge may be used. A cantilever dental bridge is when the “false tooth” is only supported on one side. The result is just as aesthetic but has the benefit that fewer teeth have to be treated.

3. Resin Bonded Dental Bridges / Maryland Dental Bridge

The type of dental bridge is almost always used for your front teeth. The main benefit of this type of dental bridge is that healthy teeth either side need either minimal or no preparation. The “false tooth” is fused to metal or ceramic “wings” that are bonded very firmly to the supporting or “abutment” teeth with a resin. The wings are hidden from view so that only the porcelain, which appears just like a natural tooth, is visible.

4. Implant Supported Dental bridges

Implants are the modern way to replace missing teeth. An implant is placed in the bone where the tooth root would have originally been. When it has fused to the bone it can be restored with individual crowns or, when more than one tooth is missing, with an implant supported dental bridge. Even if you have no teeth in one or both jaws, implants can be placed and an implant supported dental bridge securely fixed.

There are three primary types of dental bridges, but the concept behind all of them is the same: Either one or several artificial teeth known as pontics are placed in the mouth and anchored to implanted posts or neighboring teeth (known as abutments). They literally bridge a space between two teeth.

• A fixed bridge contains a crown at either end with one or more false teeth attached between them. The crowns slip over the natural teeth found immediately to the right and left of the gap made by missing teeth, and the bridge's false teeth rest on the gums. This is a very durable bridge that's appropriate for placement anywhere in the mouth.

• A resin-bonded bridge -- also known as a Maryland bonded bridge -- contains false teeth that span a gap in the mouth. But in this case, the false teeth are attached via metal bands that are glued to neighboring teeth instead of anchored with crowns. It is a viable option when the anchoring teeth are still in good shape and don't need to be restored through the crowning procedure. It is also often used in the front of the mouth where the stress is minimal and the metal bands can be hidden behind the teeth. It is a less invasive process, although the bridge itself isn't as secure as a fixed bridge.

• A cantilever bridge is similar to a fixed bridge except, instead of anchoring to a tooth on either side of the gap, it attaches to only one tooth. This might be used in the very back of the mouth where there is only one tooth to which the bridge can anchor, or anywhere there is only one healthy tooth to which the bridge can attach.

As with all bridges (large or small), the key to success is planning, which in this case, means a visit to your dentist. He or she will evaluate your overall dental health and decide whether or not you're a good candidate. If your gums and teeth are in reasonably good health and no gum disease is present, your dentist will green light you for the bridge procedure.

In creating a fixed or cantilevered bridge, the dentist first numbs your mouth in the area where the bridge will eventually be inserted. He then prepares the teeth that will anchor the bridge, which usually involves shaving them down so that the crowns will fit over them. If the teeth are in poor shape, however, he might need to first build them up.

Once the teeth are prepared (which is not necessary for a resin-bonded bridge), the dentist will take a mold of your mouth using a soft putty. This mold is then sent off to a lab so that the bridge can be manufactured. In the meantime, the dentist will fit you with a temporary bridge to protect the exposed teeth and gums. When the permanent bridge is ready, you will return to the dentist's office, the temporary bridge will be removed and the permanent one set in place with super-strong cement.