DENTAL BRIDGES

A dental bridge is a false tooth (called a pontic) that’s used to fill the gap. Unlike traditional removable dentures, a dental bridge is permanent as it’s anchored to the teeth at one, or both, sides using metal bands held in place by resin or cement. With proper care, a dental bridge should last for 10 to 15 years.

Oral functionality and appearance are important reasons for wearing a dental bridge. A dental bridge helps support your lips and cheeks. The loss of a back tooth may cause your mouth to sink and your face to look older.
Dental 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.
Missing teeth can cause speech disorders as they are used to make many of the sounds we use to speak clearly.

Traditional fixed bridge: This is the most common type of bridge. It includes a Retainer Crown on each side and placement of the pontic(s) that replicates the missing tooth.

Implant-supported bridge: This procedure requires several steps of treatment. This step use Dental Implants as opposed to retainer crowns or framework. An Implant is surgically placed for every missing tooth, and these implants hold the bridge in position. An implant is first embedded into your jawbone by an Oral Surgeon in one procedure and after months of healing, patients will be ready for the final restoration. During an initial visit to our practice, a design specification is made and sent to our dental laboratory to fabricate the permanent dental bridge for placement.

The attachment procedure usually takes two or three appointments to complete. At the first appointment. We will prepare the teeth on either side of the gap by removing a portion of the enamel and dentin.
Since the bridge must be fabricated very precisely to ensure correct bite and to match the opposing tooth, impressions of the teeth are taken and sent to a lab where the bridge will be constructed.
Fixed bridges are typically cemented to the natural teeth next to the space left by the missing tooth. A pontic (false tooth) replaces the lost tooth. Dental crowns, which are cemented onto the natural teeth, provide support for the bridge.

A strict regimen of brushing and flossing will keep the bridge and surrounding teeth clean. This is of critical importance as the bridge relies on the neighboring teeth for Arch support.