Dental bridges are a form of false teeth that are designed to fill the spaces left by missing teeth. They can be invaluably beneficial both for health and cosmetic reasons.
The dentist will create a dental bridge of the correct dimensions. The false tooth of a dental bridge is called a pontic. In the majority of cases it is fitted into a specified gap by attaching to the neighbouring teeth on either side using crowns. The porcelain crowns act as anchors for the pontic, creating a fixed, immovable dental bridge between the abutment teeth on both sides. Pieces of these adjacent teeth are removed to accommodate the crowns.
Types of bridge
Traditional fixed bridges
The traditional fixed bridge is the widespread definition of a dental bridge, fitted using the mechanisms described above and forming an irremovable bridge. These can cover gaps left by one or more missing teeth where abutment teeth can anchor the pontic at either end.
Resin bonded bridges
Resin bonded bridges are less expensive and usually recommended for the front teeth. The pontic is bonded to metal bands and these bands are linked to the abutment teeth using a hidden resin. The abutment teeth should be healthy for the resin bridge to be fully effective, but this type of bridge requires less preparation of the teeth.
Cantilever bridges
Cantilever bridges are available for parts of the mouth that are not under much strain, particularly the area where the front teeth grow. These bridges are used in cases where an abutment tooth is only present on one side of the space.
Why would I need a bridge?
Missing teeth can be unsightly and often lower the confidence of sufferers. But there are reasons unrelated to aesthetics that missing teeth need to be replaced. The remaining teeth can begin to place inordinate pressure on the teeth directly adjacent to the gap. These teeth are regularly forced to lean unnaturally into the space, which can change the person’s bite. There is also a higher risk of tooth decay and gum disease for people with gaps because specks of food build up in the space and are more difficult to remove or clean away. Some people with gaps suffer from speech impediments.
The benefits
The bridges provide a naturalistic, pleasing and discreet appearance. The fitting process is usually quick and easy for the patient. With appropriate oral hygiene, a dental bridge can last successfully for approximately ten years. The upshot of this is that falling into slack oral hygiene routines can harm the bridges and also provoke tooth or gum infection, though this is also a risk for people without bridges. The treated teeth are often sensitive to fluctuating temperature for a number of weeks after the fitting, but this should soon diminish.
The teeth are made from strong stuff, but years of wear and tear and injuries can take their toll and most of us need restorative treatment at some point in our lives. Common types of restorative treatment include:
Crowns
Fillings
Dental bridges
Why would I need restorative dental treatment?
You may need restorative dental treatment if you have cavities, have injured or fractured your tooth, have had root canal treatment, have had a tooth knocked out or extracted or your tooth has been weakened by a large filling. The type of restoration you have usually depends on the extent of the damage to the tooth and the location of the tooth.
About dental bridges
A dental bridge is a type of restoration used to replace a missing tooth. There are various types of dental bridge, including:
Traditional fixed bridge
Cantilever bridge
Maryland bridge (also known as a resin-bonded bridge)
A traditional fixed bridge is the most common type of bridge. It is made from a pontic (a false tooth), fused to two crowns. A cantilever bridge is used when there are healthy teeth on one side of the gap only and a Maryland bridge is often recommended when one of the front teeth is missing.
Dental bridges can be made from many different materials, including gold, metal alloys, porcelain and metal fused to ceramic. Metal bridges tend to be stronger than ceramic bridges, but ceramic bridges are more aesthetically pleasing; often, the best solution is to go for a ceramic and metal bridge.
Benefits of a dental bridge
Dental bridges are an effective means of replacing a missing tooth. They restore the look of the smile, giving you confidence when you smile and enable you to eat, drink and speak without any problems.
Dental bridges should last for several years provided that they are well looked-after. It is important to keep the bridge clean and your dentist will check your bridge every time you have a routine check-up. Contact the team at Clifton Dental Studio, right in the heart of Bristol, for more information.
Tooth loss is a problem that can affect patients of all ages. Losing a single tooth or a number of teeth is distressing and it can have far-reaching implications for your confidence, health and wellbeing. We always recommend replacing missing teeth and one of our options is dental bridges.
About dental bridges
Dental bridges are a popular choice for people who have a missing tooth. The most common type of dental bridge is a traditional fixed bridge, which is made from a false tooth and two crowns. The bridge is supported by the neighbouring teeth and helps to improve the aesthetic of the smile, as well as improving speech and enabling you to eat and enjoy a variety of foods. It is also possible to connect a dental bridge to a dental implant.
We use high quality materials to create durable and functional bridges and we offer a choice of materials to suit your preferences, including precious metals, metal alloys and ceramics. Porcelain bridges are very popular because they create the best aesthetics.
Dental bridges are custom-made to ensure the best fit and the procedure is pain-free.
Will a dental bridge affect my speech?
In some cases, it can take a couple of days to get used to the bridge and this means that your speech may be slightly different during this period. However, most people find that the bridge doesn’t affect the way they speak at all and in cases where a patient has been without a tooth for a long time, a bridge can actually improve speech.
How long do bridges last?
Dental bridges should last for around 5-7 years and with good oral hygiene and regular dental visits, the lifespan may even reach over 10 years. Every time you have a routine check-up, your dentist will check your bridge.
Tooth loss is an issue faced by patients of all ages, but thankfully there are some excellent tooth replacement treatments available on the market. Whether you’ve lost a single tooth or have a number of missing teeth, there are effective solutions out there and there are numerous advantages to replacing lost teeth. One popular option for a single missing tooth is a dental bridge.
What is a dental bridge?
Dental bridges are restorations designed to fill gaps in the smile by replacing a missing tooth with a false tooth. There are various different types of bridge and the most common is the traditional fixed bridge. This appliance is made from a false tooth supported by a crown on either side. Bridges are versatile, durable and can be designed to match the natural teeth perfectly. It is possible to make bridges from ceramics including porcelain, as well as precious and non-precious metals. Porcelain bridges are very popular because they produce beautiful, natural looking aesthetics.
Bridges are a great option for patients with a missing tooth because they are easy to maintain, last for up to 15 years and are more affordable than dental implants. The procedure to fit a bridge is straightforward and treatment is usually complete within 2 weeks. All our bridges are custom-made for the individual patient and once they have been made, they are fixed into position in a simple procedure.
What are the alternatives to a dental bridge?
Dentures and dental implants are alternatives to dental bridges. Dentures are a very popular option for patients who have lost a number of teeth, while dental implants can be beneficial for patients with one, several or a whole arch of missing teeth. Implants last a lifetime and have many benefits for patients of all ages. Dentures are effective and affordable, and modern dentures also look very natural. The best way to decide which option is best for you is to arrange a consultation where we will examine your mouth and then discuss the different treatments with you to help you make a well-informed decision.
If you lose a tooth due to an injury, or you are advised to have a tooth extracted as a result of decay or infection, we have a range of options to restore your smile, including dental bridges.
About dental bridges
Dental bridges are a very popular tooth replacement treatment, and are most commonly used to replace a single tooth. Bridges are usually made from a false tooth, which is fused to two crowns, one on each side. However, it is also possible to get bridges that are supported on one side of the gap only. These bridges are known as traditional fixed bridges and cantilever bridges respectively.
There are various materials that can be used to make a dental bridge, including precious and non-precious metals and ceramics. We often find that porcelain is a very popular choice because it produces the most attractive aesthetics and enables us to replace the tooth without detracting from the natural beauty of the smile.
Bridges are custom-made for the individual patient and they are fitted during a simple and painless procedure. Once the bridge has been fitted, your dentist will check it every time you have a check-up. Provided that you look after the bridge, it should last for around 10-15 years.
Advantages of dental bridges
Dental bridges are a more affordable option than dental implants and the treatment process is simple, painless and relatively quick. Usually treatment is complete within 2-3 weeks and then you can enjoy the benefits of your new tooth. Bridges are durable and they can provide extremely natural aesthetics.
With a dental bridge, you can enjoy better oral function and a reduced risk of oral disease, as well as feeling more confident when you smile.
We are proud to offer our patients an array of restorative and cosmetic dental treatments and we have options to cater for the needs of all our patients. We provide a range of different tooth replacement treatments for patients with a single missing tooth, a few lost teeth or full arches of missing teeth and we can tailor your treatment plan to suit your preferences and your budget. Our treatments include dental bridges, dentures and dental implants. Dental bridges are a popular choice for patients with a single missing tooth and they are most commonly made from a false tooth, which is joined to two crowns. We have a choice of materials on offer, including porcelain, for a lovely natural look and we use the best materials to ensure durability. Our bespoke dentures are an excellent choice for patients with a few missing teeth or full sets of lost teeth. Our modern partial and complete dentures are designed to mimic natural teeth in look and function and they make a real difference to the look of your smile, as well as your quality of life. Dental implants are the closest option to healthy, natural teeth; they are designed to replace the tooth root and implanted into the jaw bone. Once the implant has integrated, the implant is attached to a new restoration, which replaces the visible part of the lost tooth. Implants are very versatile because they can be connected to bridges, crowns and dentures. Whatever your needs, we can help to give you a beautiful new smile!
Losing teeth has an obvious impact on the look of your smile, but it can also be detrimental for your oral health and general wellbeing. Your teeth are involved in a number of important actions every day, from helping to form sounds, to enabling you to chew food properly before digestion, and without them, even the most basic functions may become more difficult. Thankfully, we offer a range of effective tooth replacement treatments for patients of all ages with any number of missing teeth. Our treatments include dental bridges, dentures and dental implants and we will happily discuss and explore the options with you, to enable you to make a decision about which treatment suits your needs best. Dentures are sets of false teeth, which are very effective for patients with a large number of missing teeth; they look like natural teeth and they are custom-made for comfort and functionality. Dental bridges are a very popular treatment for a single missing tooth. There are different types of bridge available, including traditional fixed bridges, cantilever bridges and resin-bonded bridges and they can be manufactured using various materials, including precious metals and porcelain. Dental implants are the most versatile solution because they can replace any number of teeth; they also last longer and provide amazing levels of functionality. Whatever your needs, we have an option to suit you and will have you smiling with confidence in no time!
In today’s world of dentistry, there are some extraordinary techniques and procedures to get you through difficult times, times such as tooth loss. This is a particularly uncomfortable period because aside from the shock, and the deflation of your ego, it also puts the future of your oral health at risk. It is best you do something about it in order to overcome these problems to get you up and smiling again, and a seasoned way to do this is to get a dental bridge put in. Once the damaged area has been assessed and measured up by your dentist, then the best choice of bridge for you can be made, and mouldings taken from this area can then be sent off for the bridge to be made. Depending on where the bridge needs to go will determine how it is set into place; the most common method is to cement the bridge in between two other teeth, though it can be set with wires and resins. However, many dentists prefer to double-up the bridge with a mini-dental implant as this offers tremendous strength and rigidity to the fitting. If you live in Bath and like the idea of the dental bridge and want to know more, then get in touch with Clifton Dental in Bristol for they serve the town and are experts in all aspects of bridges and tooth-loss
Overcoming the aftermath of tooth-loss can be quite a traumatic time in your life, but if you want to keep smiling with style and ensure the health of your mouth is safe in the future, overcome it you must. One of the more established ways of getting through this choppy period is to have a dental bridge put in to fill up the hole. These have been around for years, but since technology got to grips with dental implants, a combination of the two has made for an extremely strong fitting indeed that will last you for a long time. Every incident and the position of loss will require a bespoke bridge to deal with your particular problem, but they are very adaptable and your dentist will decide what is right for you. Cleaning them at first will be a hassle as you will need to get under and around them with special techniques and tools, however crack this and you really will be smiling. Have a chat and get more advice from the professionals Clifton Dental of Bristol; they will put your mind at rest by answering all of your questions, so tap them up, as they serve the bath area.
The Clifton Dental Studio of Bristol are experts when it comes to anything that may go wrong in your mouth and you are lucky that they serve the Swindon area. Tooth loss is probably the most shocking of crisis’ that can ever happen to you and both from a health angle and to maintain a radiant smile, and it is important to act on it quickly and give these people a call for advice. One of the options that may be suggested to you is a dental bridge and this is a perfect way to overcome the loss of a tooth. This method has been around for decades and proven itself with the use of resins and wires and the use of crowns bonded to the surrounding teeth. But with any great treatment, it has not only shown that it is reliable, it has also evolved and now can be used alongside the fitting of dental implants that have taken this treatment to a better and more reliable level. Bridges can be hard to clean at the beginning, but they will give you a good 20 years of service; they are fairly cheap to have done and they will put that smile back into your mouth. Sit down and chat with your dentist about your options when it comes to bridges; they can be adapted for any situation that may crop up, so you should weigh-up your options before making a choice.
Dr Gerrard is a Bristol based Cosmetic dentist with many years of experience and is one of only a small number of dentists accredited by The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
We are proud to offer our patients an array of restorative and cosmetic dental treatments and we have options to cater for the needs of all our patients. We provide a range of different tooth replacement treatments for patients with a single missing tooth, a few lost teeth or full arches of missing teeth and we can tailor your treatment plan to suit your preferences and your budget. Our treatments include dental bridges, dentures and dental implants. Dental bridges are a popular choice for patients with a single missing tooth and they are most commonly made from a false tooth, which is joined to two crowns. We have a choice of materials on offer, including porcelain, for a lovely natural look and we use the best materials to ensure durability. Our bespoke dentures are an excellent choice for patients with a few missing teeth or full sets of lost teeth. Our modern partial and complete dentures are designed to mimic natural teeth in look and function and they make a real difference to the look of your smile, as well as your quality of life. Dental implants are the closest option to healthy, natural teeth; they are designed to replace the tooth root and implanted into the jaw bone. Once the implant has integrated, the implant is attached to a new restoration, which replaces the visible part of the lost tooth. Implants are very versatile because they can be connected to bridges, crowns and dentures. Whatever your needs, we can help to give you a beautiful new smile!
Losing teeth has an obvious impact on the look of your smile, but it can also be detrimental for your oral health and general wellbeing. Your teeth are involved in a number of important actions every day, from helping to form sounds, to enabling you to chew food properly before digestion, and without them, even the most basic functions may become more difficult. Thankfully, we offer a range of effective tooth replacement treatments for patients of all ages with any number of missing teeth. Our treatments include dental bridges, dentures and dental implants and we will happily discuss and explore the options with you, to enable you to make a decision about which treatment suits your needs best. Dentures are sets of false teeth, which are very effective for patients with a large number of missing teeth; they look like natural teeth and they are custom-made for comfort and functionality. Dental bridges are a very popular treatment for a single missing tooth. There are different types of bridge available, including traditional fixed bridges, cantilever bridges and resin-bonded bridges and they can be manufactured using various materials, including precious metals and porcelain. Dental implants are the most versatile solution because they can replace any number of teeth; they also last longer and provide amazing levels of functionality. Whatever your needs, we have an option to suit you and will have you smiling with confidence in no time!
In today’s world of dentistry, there are some extraordinary techniques and procedures to get you through difficult times, times such as tooth loss. This is a particularly uncomfortable period because aside from the shock, and the deflation of your ego, it also puts the future of your oral health at risk. It is best you do something about it in order to overcome these problems to get you up and smiling again, and a seasoned way to do this is to get a dental bridge put in. Once the damaged area has been assessed and measured up by your dentist, then the best choice of bridge for you can be made, and mouldings taken from this area can then be sent off for the bridge to be made. Depending on where the bridge needs to go will determine how it is set into place; the most common method is to cement the bridge in between two other teeth, though it can be set with wires and resins. However, many dentists prefer to double-up the bridge with a mini-dental implant as this offers tremendous strength and rigidity to the fitting. If you live in Bath and like the idea of the dental bridge and want to know more, then get in touch with Clifton Dental in Bristol for they serve the town and are experts in all aspects of bridges and tooth-loss
Overcoming the aftermath of tooth-loss can be quite a traumatic time in your life, but if you want to keep smiling with style and ensure the health of your mouth is safe in the future, overcome it you must. One of the more established ways of getting through this choppy period is to have a dental bridge put in to fill up the hole. These have been around for years, but since technology got to grips with dental implants, a combination of the two has made for an extremely strong fitting indeed that will last you for a long time. Every incident and the position of loss will require a bespoke bridge to deal with your particular problem, but they are very adaptable and your dentist will decide what is right for you. Cleaning them at first will be a hassle as you will need to get under and around them with special techniques and tools, however crack this and you really will be smiling. Have a chat and get more advice from the professionals Clifton Dental of Bristol; they will put your mind at rest by answering all of your questions, so tap them up, as they serve the bath area.
