As their name suggests, dental bridges literally span the gap left by one or more missing teeth, using your neighbouring teeth either side as support.
At A2Z Dental Clinic we can in some cases custom make natural-looking dental bridges in our on-site laboratory. The majority of dental bridges will be manufactured by specialist labs.
It’s quite common that people who have been missing teeth for some time, often experience further problems with their oral health.
We can explain this using the metaphor of a bookcase. Imagine taking one or more books out of the middle of a crowded bookshelf. You can easily visualise that the books left on the shelf either side will soon slump towards each other, since they’re lacking the support of the missing book.
This is the same scenario which can occur if you’ve been missing teeth for a long time. Food can also become trapped in this gap, causing tooth decay and gum disease.
The Dental Bridge Process
We use your adjacent teeth as the support for the bridge, by shaping them and capping them with crowns. Your new replacement tooth is attached between these crowns to form one solid dental bridge.
The entire new restoration is then securely cemented to your teeth, and you can again enjoy an attractive complete smile and an improved ability to speak and chew. With good oral hygiene, your new bridge will enhance your smile for years to come.
Even though dental bridges are a solid and effective tooth restoration, there may be another treatment option which is an even better fit for you. If you’d prefer a treatment which doesn’t need your adjacent teeth to be modified, dental implants could be an alternative way to restore your smile, or dentures could be more appropriate for your needs.
Contact the A2Z Dental Clinic team to book a personal consultation.
View the Dental Bridge animation video.