Bridges

 

 

What Is a Bridge?

 

A bridge is a dental restoration that fills the space where one or more teeth are missing. The bridge restores your bite and helps keep the natural shape of your face.

 

Why Do I Need A Bridge?

 

A missing tooth is a serious matter. Teeth are made to work together. When you lose a tooth, the nearby teeth may tilt or drift into the empty space. The teeth in the opposite jaw may also shift up or down toward the space. This can affect your bite and place more stress on your teeth and jaw joints, possibly causing pain.

 

Teeth that have tipped or drifted are also harder to clean. This puts them at a higher risk for tooth decay and gum disease.

 

When a tooth is missing, the bone may shrink. If that happens, it may change the way the jawbone supports the lips and cheeks. Over time, this can make your face look different.

 

Fixed Bridges

 

Another tooth replacement option is a fixed bridge, which fills the space where one or more teeth have been lost. A fixed bridge is bonded or cemented into place and only a dentist can remove it. Placing a bridge will take more than one dental visit. We will prepare your teeth on either side of the gap and take some impressions to be sent to our lab. From the impressions, the lab will fabricate a bridge. In the meantime, we will create a temporary which will be temporarily cemented into your mouth to prevent your teeth from shifting while the lab creates the bridge. The advantages of a fixed bridge are that they look and feel like natural teeth and aren't required to be removed to clean them. However, they are generally more expensive than a removable partial denture and involve the teeth next to the missing tooth.