Dental Bridges
A bridge is a permanent dental treatment used to replace missing teeth. This prosthesis utilizes adjacent natural teeth as anchors for a false tooth to be connected to.
Bridges are categorized according to the number of units, which represent the number of teeth they cover.The most popular option is a three-unit bridge.
Dental bridges are made from the same materials as crowns and require certain changes to oral hygiene for maintenance purposes. This form of tooth replacement generally takes only several weeks in the lab and is permanently cemented onto the anchor teeth; it cannot be removed by patients.
Types of Dental Bridges
There are several types of dental bridges that are commonly used in modern dentistry:
Traditional Fixed bridges
The most widely used type. They are made by using the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth as anchors in order to retain the false tooth permanently.
Maryland Bridges
Better suited for people missing front teeth. They’re porcelain that’s fused to ceramic or metal teeth. They are mounted on a frame that’s supported by wings bonded onto existing teeth on both sides. This can be used if the adjacent teeth are not damaged whatsoever.
Implant Supported Bridges
Are very much like a traditional fixed bridge with the only difference being that it’s supported by implants instead of existing teeth.
The Procedure
No matter what type of dental bridge you are getting, it will likely take at least two visits to complete the procedure.
At your first appointment, we will reshape abutment teeth by removing parts of enamel and dentin to make room for crowns.
We’ll also take impressions or digital scans of your teeth to create the dental bridge, prosthetic teeth, and crowns in a lab. During this time, you will receive a temporary bridge for protection.
At the second visit, the temporary bridge will be removed and the permanent bridge installed. During this time adjustments will also be made to get the perfect fit.
