Bridges

What is a bridge?

• A bridge uses artificial teeth to literally bridge two or more teeth together and replace the gap caused by a missing tooth or teeth above the gumline. A bridge is made of materials such as metal and/ or porcelain. A bridge is a fixed appliance that stays in your mouth and can only be removed by a dentist.

What are the advantages to a bridge?

• One advantage to a bridge is that it restores esthetics by replacing missing teeth.
• A bridge restores function and allows you to chew and speak properly.
• It prevents the drifting of your remaining natural teeth.
• Since the bridge remains in your mouth, you don’t need to worry about misplacing or dropping it.

What are the disadvantages to a bridge?

• You will need to learn how to floss underneath your bridge in order to keep it clean. This can be difficult at first but most patients eventually have no problem keeping their bridges clean.
• Sometimes it is necessary to remove healthy tooth structure in order to place a bridge.
• If a cavity develops on one of the teeth holding the bridge then this may create the need to replace the entire bridge since the teeth are connected together.
• A bridge does not maintain bone in the area of the missing tooth so bone loss can continue to occur.