Dental Bridges

Dental bridges are false teeth that are fused between two crowns made of porcelain and are used to replace one or two missing teeth. Dental bridges are fixed and cannot be removed from the mouth like partial dentures. Sometimes cantilever bridges are used when there are no teeth on one side of the gap left by missing teeth. Bridges are important for correcting bite problems,reducing the risk of gum infections which frequently occur when there are open gaps left by missing teeth and also help improve speech. The patient should observe strict oral hygiene to ensure that the bridges last long. Typical bridges last for ten or more years.

Process of Fitting Dental Bridges

The cosmetic dentist first prepares the teeth on either side of the gap where the bridge will be fitted. This is done under local anesthetic and the procedure is therefore painless. A small portion of the teeth that will support the bridge(also known as abutments) is removed. This is done so as the thickness of the crown can be well accommodated. If the teeth already have fillings,some of the filling is left intact to act as foundation.

After this,the cosmetic dentists then makes an impression of the teeth. This is used to make a model of the dental bridge,false teeth and dental crowns that will be made in a dentists lab. A temporary bridge is fitted on the patient which he wears until the actual bridge is fitted during his second visit to the clinic. Sometimes the cosmetic dentist will use a `flipper appliance'.This is a temporary false tooth that is designed to take the place of the missing tooth before the bridge is fixed. There are three types of dental bridges available today.

Traditional Fixed Bridge

With this type of bridge ,the bridge is fused between two crowns made of porcelain to cover the gap left by one or more missing teeth. This bridge has two crowns that hold it firmly in place and are attached to either side of the false tooth. Traditional fixed bridges are used to replace one or more missing teeth. They are not removable once fixed.

Resin Bonded Bridges

This type of dental bridge is used primarily for the front teeth. They are less expensive than traditional fixed bridges. They are used when the bridge supports,also known as abutments,are relatively healthy and do not have any large fillings. The false tooth is fixed to metal bands which are bonded to the abutments with resin.

Cantilever Bridges

Cantilever bridges are ideal for use in areas under little stress such as the front teeth. They are also used for gaps where there are teeth in only one side of the gap. The false tooth is fixed to one side of the gap to the natural teeth(one or more teeth can be used).

For dental bridges give our dentist a call on 01708-442-114. Perfect Smile Spa is a leading cosmetic dentistry clinic situated in Hornchurch Essex.