Dental Bridges
Resolving functional issues with your teeth.
There’s no reason to put up with the struggles of living with missing teeth. A dental bridge is a tooth replacement solution that marries together crowns and false teeth. Not only will your bridge resolve functional issues with your teeth, but it will also appear as a fully natural part of your smile.
Treatment Introduction
- They can last for 10-15 years, provided they are well-cared for.
- Tooth replacement restoration encompassing natural teeth + crowns + false teeth.
- Custom-made for your smile aesthetic and oral anatomy.
Treatment Objectives
- To replace gaps in your smile.
- To help your teeth bite together correctly (this reduces the potential for further tooth wear).
- To improve your overall oral health (having a full set of teeth can reduce the risk of problems such as decay).
- To prevent your natural teeth from moving out of position.
What is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge uses multiple crowns and a false tooth to replace a gap in your teeth. A bridge adjoins crowns with a false tooth, which sits in the gap as the replacement tooth.
Your Patient Journey
Consultation
If you are new to the practice, a full dental examination will need to be completed, including a set of X-rays. The condition of your soft tissues (gums and tongue) will also be examined.
We will run through your options for tooth replacement. Your dentist may also identify the need for the extraction of teeth prior to treatment.
First Treatment Visit
Your mouth is prepared for treatment under local anaesthetic. Your dentist will place crowns on the teeth adjacent to the gap, and a small amount of tooth enamel will need to be removed to place these. Artificial teeth can then be placed in between, supported by the presence of crowns on either side.
In cases when there is a healthy tooth on either side of the gap, we may not need to use crowns – your natural tooth may be capable of supporting the false tooth efficiently.
A temporary bridge is placed, and a digital impression of your tooth is taken to send away to the dental lab.
Second Treatment Visit
Once your permanent bridge has been designed and sent back to us, we can fit it in place of your temporary bridge. Your dentist will check over the dimensions of the bridge to ensure it is a good fit, check the tooth shade, and assess how your teeth bite together.
FAQs
Should I get a bridge or dental implants?
At your consultation appointment, we will go through the advantages of different modes of tooth replacement, including implants.
Implants enhance the functionality and fit of a dental bridge, anchoring it within the jawbone. This will produce notably better chewing function, and once the implants have healed, the jawbone receives daily stimulation.
Do I need to replace missing or extracted teeth?
There are a number of problems that can occur once there is a gap in your teeth, including an increased risk of decay and changes to how your teeth sit in your mouth.
A tooth replacement solution like a dental bridge can increase your defence against shifting teeth and tooth wear whilst giving you the confidence to smile without hesitation in the company of others.
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