Treatments - bridges

A dental bridge is a false tooth, known as a pontic, which is fused between two porcelain crowns to fill in the area left by a missing tooth. The two crowns holding it in place are attached onto your teeth on each side of the false tooth. This is known as a fixed bridge. This procedure is used to replace one or more missing teeth. Fixed bridges cannot be taken out of your mouth as you might do with removable partial dentures. In areas of your mouth that are under less stress, such as your front teeth, a cantilever bridge may be used. Cantilever bridges are used when there are teeth on only one side of the open space.

Bridges can reduce your risk of gum disease, help correct some bite issues and even improve your speech. Bridges require your commitment to serious oral hygiene, but will last as many ten years or more.

How is a dental bridge accomplished?
Your dentist will prepare your teeth on either side of the space for the false tooth as if for crowns. You will be given a mild anesthetic to numb the area, and the cosmetic dentist will shape each abutment (teeth on either side of the space) to accommodate for the thickness of the crown and to give anchorage and support for the bridge. When these teeth already have fillings, part of the filling may be left in place to help as a foundation for the crown.

After tooth preparation

The dentist will then take an impression, which will serve as the model from which the bridge, false tooth and crowns will be made by a dental laboratory. A temporary bridge will be placed for. you to wear while your bridge is being made until your next visit. This temporary bridge will serve to protect your teeth and gums. On your second appointment, the temporary bridge will be removed. Your new permanent bridge will be fitted and checked and adjusted for any bite discrepancies. Your new bridge will then be cemented to your teeth. The Three

Types of Bridges

Traditional Fixed Bridge
As discussed above.

Resin Bonded Bridges

The resin bonded is primarily used for your front teeth. Less expensive, this bridge is best used when the abutment teeth are healthy and don't have large fillings. The false tooth is fused to metal bands that are bonded to the back surface of the abutment teeth with a resin and are hidden from view. This type of bridge reduces the amount of preparation on the adjacent teeth.

Cantilever Bridges

In areas of your mouth that are under less stress, such as your front teeth, a cantilever bridge may be used. Cantilever bridges are used when there are teeth on only one side of the open space. This procedure involves anchoring the false tooth to one side over one or more natural and adjacent teeth.

Pros and Cons of a Dental Bridge Advantages of dental bridges:
Bridges are natural in appearance, and usually require only two visits to your dentist. If you maintain good oral hygiene, your fixed bridge should last as many as ten years or more.

Disadvantages of having a dental bridge: It is common for your teeth to be mildly sensitive to extreme temperatures for a few weeks after the treatment. The build up of bacteria formed from food acids on your teeth and gums can become infected in proper oral hygiene is not followed.

The abutment teeth have been prepared for the bridge, which necessitates the removal of a certain amount of tooth structure. This might have to be radical in some areas if you are trying to alter tooth positions for cosmetic reasons and this could risk some damage to the nerve in the tooth. Care For Bridges

Brush and floss daily all areas around the bridge. It is not possible to floss between the replacement tooth and the attaching crowns (it is made as a solid piece). In order to solve this problem - it is necessary to use a special type of floss to go under the replacement tooth and keep this area of gum tissue healthy.