Dental bridges are false teeth anchored on neighbouring teeth in order to replace one or more missing teeth. The false tooth is known as a
pontic and is fused in between two crowns that serve as anchors by attaching to the teeth on each side of the false tooth and thereby bridging them together. A "Maryland" bridge, on the other hand, is where the pontic is fixed to the teeth on either side using wings, meaning that it is
not necessary to fit a crown to the other teeth.
Why do I need a Bridge?
Your dentist will recommend a bridge for cosmetic and clinical reasons. A missing tooth following an accident can obviously be unsightly
and traumatic, and a bridge is an effective way to solve this problem. However, a dentist will also use a bridge in situations where it has
been necessary to extract a tooth because of advanced decay. The clinical advantages of using a bridge are that it will reduce strain on the
surrounding teeth, and prevent problems with the patient's bite developing- surrounding teeth will often start to move into a gap, and food
can become trapped leading to increased decay and gum disease.
What are the parts of a typical dental bridge (fixed) ?
A dental bridge essentially consists of:
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A pontic or false tooth used to replace the missing tooth, and is made from gold, alloys, porcelain or a combination of these materials
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Two crowns – serving to anchor the false tooth in place.
What are bridges made of?
Bridges may be made of :
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Porcelain
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Porcelain bonded to precious metal.
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All metal dental bridges (Gold)
How your bridge is fitted
It will take at least two visits to your dentist to have a bridge fitted and adjusted correctly. On your first visit preparatory work will be done,
such as making space for new crowns for a fixed bridge. Your dentist will then take a mould of your teeth from which your bridge will be made.
On your next visit, your bridge will be fitted and adjusted to ensure a correct bite. It is unlikely your dentist will permanently fix your bridge until you’ve worn it for a few weeks and are both happy with the fit and feel. It will then be fixed permanently into place.
How long will dental bridges last?
Dental bridges can last 10-15 years provided that you maintain good dental hygiene and eating habits.
