"Replacing teeth in an elegant, mature, beautiful way"
A dental bridge is a bespoke tooth replacement made by a skilled ceramist in a dental laboratory. This procedure involves replacing a missing tooth with a false tooth attached to one or more teeth adjacent to the missing space. Generally dental bridges are made of a combination of porcelain and metal
A dental bridge allows a fixed replacement of one or more teeth. The teeth on either side of the gap will act as anchors to retain the prosthetic tooth. This means that the replacement tooth will look and feel just like your natural teeth do and you will never have to take it in and out at night times like dentures.
Missing teeth may cause difficulty eating all the foods you enjoy or may be a reason to feel self-conscience when laughing talking and smiling. There are two different types of bridge: a conventional fixed bridge and an adhesive bridge. After a thorough assessment, your dentist will be able to recommend which type of bridge is most suitable.
The procedure usually takes two appointments to complete, there sometimes can be a need for a third appointment.
1. The teeth supporting the bridge will be anaesthetised during each appointment, so that the procedure is completely pain free.
2. The teeth will then be shaped to accept the bridge. During this stage any existing fillings are removed, underlying decay or cracks and a new white filling placed in the centre of the tooth.
3. After intraoral digital scans of your upper and lower teeth are taken, we will place a temporary crowns on the teeth supporting the bridge for 2-3 weeks whilst the final prosthesis is hand-crafted.
4. On the second appointment, the dental bridge is cemented using high strength dental cements.
It is widely accepted that dental implants are the ideal option for replacing missing teeth. There are disadvantages with dental bridges which you would not have with implants:
However, some of the common reasons patients may choose to have a dental bridge is because they are more cost effective and the treatment can be completed in a smaller time frame compared to implants.
Additionally, sometimes implants may not be even be an option for some patients if they have certain medical conditions or if the remaining space is too small.
Conventional fixed bridges usually involve cutting down one or two of the teeth on either side of the space being replaced. The prosthetic tooth is then joined to the teeth that have been prepared.
Conversely, an adhesive bridge usually attaches to just one tooth with a small metal wing, they involve minimal or no drilling of the teeth adjacent to the space. The ability of them to stay fixed in their position is highly dependent on the strength of the cement, and the situations they can be used in are slightly more limited.
Choosing to leave a gap after a tooth removal is a completely valid option. There are some considerations when making this decision.
Over time, the adjacent teeth will tilt into the space which will increase the chances of oral hygiene issues, bite problems and food impaction in the missing area.
It is always possible to change your mind and have the tooth replaced in the future, however the longer a tooth is missing the more the bone and gums shrink in the area complicating future implant treatment.
Bridges are usually made of various combinations of ceramic and metal. Your dentist will be able to make a recommendation after your assessment.
At Didcot Dental Studio one of our key values is that dental treatment should be painless. Therefore, we will provide local anaesthetic which has been warmed to body temperature so that you do not feel any discomfort during the appointment.
Afterwards, some patients may experience some sensitivity, but this generally only lasts a few days or weeks if it even occurs.
