Bridges Q & A

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What is a dental bridge?

You may hear a bridge called a fixed denture; its purpose is to replace one or more missing teeth. It’s supported by adjacent natural teeth, implants, or a combination of teeth and implants.

In most cases, a bridge consists of a false tooth, anchored into place by being affixed to the surrounding tooth structures.

 

Who needs a dental bridge?

If you have good oral hygiene habits, you’re a good candidate for a bridge to fill missing tooth spaces. A bridge can successfully:

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• Restore your smile

• Fill space to support the shape of your face

• Help you maintain the ability to chew and speak

• Properly distribute the forces in your bite

• Keep existing teeth from misaligning from their original position

 

What is the process to receive a bridge?

The process to receive a bridge depends somewhat on the surrounding teeth. If you require implants to support the bridge, this procedure occurs over several months. Once your dentist has prepared the surrounding teeth and covered them with temporary crowns to support the bridge, they place the bridge device at a later visit.

 

Are there different types of bridges?

The type of bridge you receive depends on your personal oral situation and where in your mouth it’s to be placed.

Traditional bridges are most common and consist of two abutments, or supporting teeth, and one false tooth between them.

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Cantilever bridges are similar to traditional bridges, but the false tooth or teeth are attached to natural teeth on just one side.

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A Maryland bridge, or resin-bonded bridge, usually replace missing teeth in the front of the mouth. The false teeth fuse to metal bands, which also adhere to the supporting teeth with resin cement.

 

How do I care for a bridge?

A bridge can last for five to seven years, if cared for well. Proper oral hygiene, which involves regular brushing and flossing under the bridge, keeps your apparatus healthy. One of the primary reasons a bridge fails to last is that new cavities occur in the teeth supporting the device.

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The bridge is placed at later visits. On average, bridges last five to seven years. A major reason bridges fail is that new cavities develop on the supporting teeth. These cavities occur because of poor oral hygiene. With proper hygiene, which includes flossing your teeth under the bridge, they will last longer.

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If you’d like to learn more about your options for dental bridges, call or book an appointment at Coxsackie Dental Arts online.