DENTAL BRIDGES

Dental bridges are to replace missing teeth by creating a bridge between the missing teeth. This is done by bonding the bridge to the adjacent teeth. To make dental bridges, the teeth that support the bridge usually must be reshaped, then fitted with crowns, to fill in the gap where your tooth is missing.

If you have missing teeth, dental bridges can help you maintain your bite, make your speech sound better, make eating easier, and improve your smile.

If you do not want to go through a complete tooth replacement procedure such as an implant, or you don’t have the necessary bone to support one in your mouth, dental bridges can be a good solution.

Teeth are responsible for keeping your smile and your face’s shape in alignment. Losing teeth may change the shape of your face – dental bridges can protect you from this.

Missing teeth make it hard for many people to eat, chew, and swallow comfortably. Your dental bridge is designed to make eating easy and comfortable again.

Missing teeth impact not just how your voice sounds, but what you look like when you talk – dental bridges can restore both your voice and your confidence.

Unlike dentures, bridges require no hardware or appliances – you don’t have to take out the bridge every night and put it back in each morning.

Dental bridges distribute and maintain your bite and retain significantly less plaque than dentures, making them a significantly lower risk for both periodontal disease and tooth decay.

In a conventional bridge, we attach two crowns to the surrounding teeth or, in some cases, implants on each side of the missing tooth. After these crowns have been fitted, we can fill in the space between the teeth using a false tooth – also known as a pontic.

The surrounding teeth must be shaped so they can be fitted with the caps or crowns necessary to install the bridge.

With a Maryland bridge, we place metal wings on the backs of healthy surrounding teeth so that we can place a false tooth in between them. These metal wings are not at all visible, and the procedure is much less invasive when compared to a conventional bridge.

We often use Maryland bridges to replace teeth for people who are too young to receive dental implants or don’t have enough bone to support the implant.

When the missing tooth is in a part of the mouth where only one tooth can be used to support, this bridge is an option – we often use cantilevered bridges in order to replace smaller teeth.

Dental bridges can be made from porcelain, a combination of porcelain fused to metal, zirconia, or gold.

What material we use is based on the kind of bridge you need, where you’re missing teeth, and your budget. At your first visit, we will discuss all the possibilities and options to replace your missing tooth.

Before you can receive a dental bridge, we have to begin with a full dental check-up. This helps us determine your exact needs, as well as if your teeth are strong enough to support your dental bridge. If a bridge cannot be safely installed, we will recommend other treatments.

If you have one or more missing teeth or lack the bone needed to safely install a dental implant, bridges can serve as a minimally-invasive, relatively fast, and permanent solution that can be ready in weeks.

If your surrounding teeth are healthy, dental bridges may be a perfect treatment option for you. It is also possible to build up the surrounding teeth to make them strong enough to support the bridge if necessary, which can also protect them from breaking in the future.

If your teeth are in good enough health, we can prepare them to be fitted with crowns during your first appointment. If they are currently damaged or otherwise unable to support a bridge, we will work to build them up to get them ready to do so.

We make a mold of your teeth to make the bridge, then install a temporary bridge while we make the permanent one.

We then cement your permanent bridge in your mouth –your replacement tooth is now ready to be seen and used! 

Dental bridges are not always pain-free, so your dentist will discuss pain relief options with you before we start the procedure. The procedure is almost always performed with local anaesthetic, ensuring you won’t be in pain as we prepare your teeth for a dental bridge.

Your teeth should feel normal again a few days after the permanent bridge is fitted in your mouth. Be sure to brush and floss daily, especially near the dental bridge and the surrounding gum tissue, in order to stop bacteria from collecting.

The price of your dental bridge is determined based on how many units/teeth must be replaced. A three-unit bridge is a replacement for a single missing tooth.

At Implicit Dental, we are experts who specialise in bridges and crowns – we offer competitive pricing. To get an accurate estimate, schedule an appointment with Implicit Dental to discuss your case and the best options for your treatment.

Cosmetic and restorative dentistry is covered at least partially by many insurers. We work with many major providers to make the most of your coverage and benefits. Ask your health fund to find out if dental bridges are covered.