What is a Bridge?
Also known as a ‘Fixed Partial Denture’, we can use a bridge to replace a missing tooth or teeth. There are different types of bridges, depending on how they are made and the way they anchor to the adjacent teeth, but the basic principle is the same i.e. an artificial tooth is supported from adjacent teeth (or implants) to replace the tooth that has been lost.
The materials used for bridges usually include gold, porcelain fused to metal, or in the correct situation, just porcelain alone. The amount and type of preparations made to the supporting teeth varies slightly with the different materials used. Patients with bridgework must be careful to clean well beneath them and have a high standard of oral hygiene.
If a bridge is considered an appropriate treatment option, the teeth which will support the bridge are prepared. An impression is taken and we send this off to our specialist laboratory technician who makes the bridge to our unique prescription. At the second visit to the clinic, the bridge is tried in to make sure it fits well and looks great! After try-in, we use special cement to bond the bridge firmly in place so that it provides many years of service for the patient.
Where suitable, a bridge is a great alternative to a removable denture for replacing missing teeth. It is fixed in place and is typically no more noticeable in the mouth than the original tooth.
Taking Care of your Bridge
It is very important to brush and floss daily all areas around the bridge. It is not possible to floss between the replacement tooth and the attaching crowns (it is made as a solid piece). To get around this, it is necessary to use a special type of floss called ‘Superfloss’ in order to go under the replacement tooth and keep this area of gum tissue healthy. If you are having a bridge fitted at our clinic, you will be provided with superfloss along with instructions on how to use it correctly.
