Bridges

A bridge is a fixed replacement for a missing tooth or teeth that helps to quite literally ‘bridge’ the gap left by the missing tooth or teeth. Most conventional bridges use the surrounding natural teeth as support, holding the prosthetic tooth or teeth in place via crowns that are attached to these ‘anchor’ teeth.

Other than the conventional bridge-type described above, there are Maryland, adhesive, and cantilever bridges. All of these offer benefits in some way, with a cantilever bridge, for example, we’re able to use just one neighbouring natural tooth as support.

The benefit of Maryland and adhesive bridges is that they can be attached without the use of crowns, which can be more suitable in some cases. A Maryland bridge uses a frame made of either metal or porcelain, while adhesive bridges use a metal wing and dental adhesive to hold the new prosthetic tooth in place.

In most cases, we’ll always recommend replacing a missing tooth or teeth. This is because missing teeth can lead to further oral health issues, such as increased likelihood of decay, misalignment, and bone loss. They can also leave patients feeling self-conscious about their smiles, and lead to difficulty eating and speaking.

A bridge can address all these issues, providing a long-lasting solution that’s both durable and natural-looking. Bridges are custom made for each patient and will fit seamlessly in with the rest of your mouth, leaving you more confident and self-assured about your smile and oral health.

You should expect to receive your bridge over two appointments. When applying a conventional bridge, we’ll first prepare the anchor teeth, shaping them so that they are ready to receive the crown that will support your bridge.

We’ll then take impressions or a scan of the teeth, and send it off to a dental laboratory where your bridge will be made. Once the bridge is ready to be applied, you’ll return to the practice where we’ll set it in place, making sure the fit and bite are correct.

Bridges present a highly durable and long-lasting solution and can last for up to ten years with the right care and attention.