It is important to replace missing teeth in your smile, and not just because it can really affect your confidence. It’s important for the overall health of your mouth too. Replacing missing teeth stops your remaining teeth from drifting out of position, which causes alignment issues that can make it trickier to keep your mouth clean. A bridge also helps to protect the exposed gum from infection.
Bridges offer a secure and long-lasting solution for missing teeth. Unlike partial dentures that can be a bit loose or uncomfortable, bridges are fixed in place, providing a more natural feel. They can also be used in combination with dental implants to effectively replace multiple missing teeth.
The treatment process for a new bridge usually takes place over two visits. We first make sure that the teeth that will support the bridge are healthy and strong. They are prepared by removing a layer of enamel, and we take scans and impressions so your custom bridge can be created.
While your bridge is being made, we cement a temporary bridge in place to protect your exposed teeth before your next visit. This may look and feel strange at first. Take care when eating, and it is always best to avoid eating on the temporary tooth, if possible.
When your final bridge is ready, we check it over before fitting it into your mouth. We ask you about the fit, and it is important you tell us if it feels high or uncomfortable so we can make small adjustments, if necessary. Your bridge is then fixed into place using strong dental cement.
After your bridge has been fitted, you should allow at least one hour for the dental cement to set before eating. After this, you should have no problems, but may wish to avoid very hard or very sticky foods.
It is very important that you maintain excellent oral hygiene standards to ensure that your bridge stays looking good and gums stay healthy. You need to clean your bridge every day to prevent problems such as bad breath and gum disease. We will show you how to use special floss, as a normal toothbrush cannot reach certain areas.
If bridges are well looked after, and that includes keeping the surrounding teeth healthy so they can continue to provide a solid foundation, they should last for over ten years.
The main alternatives to bridges for replacing missing teeth are partial dentures and dental implants. Bridges are seen as a more secure alternative to partial dentures, as they are fixed into place and will not move or slip. Implants are seen as superior in durability and aesthetics but are more expensive. Bridges can be used in combination with implants to replace more than one missing tooth.
There are three main types of dental bridges- Traditional bridges - these are the most common type, anchored to the teeth on either side of the gap. - Cantilever bridges - these are anchored to just one healthy tooth next to the gap. - Maryland bridges - these use metal wings bonded to the back of the teeth flanking the gap, rather than crowns.