A dental bridge is a dental restoration that replaces a missing tooth. It joins permanently to adjacent teeth or other dental implants. Dental bridges are necessary to prevent problems such as shifting teeth, speech impediments and tooth decay. A dentist may use several different types of bridges, depending on the location of the missing teeth and the condition of the surrounding teeth.
Purpose
The most important reason for making a bridge is to prevent the adjacent teeth from drifting into the space left by the missing tooth or teeth. This changes a person's bite, which can result in sore jaws and problems with the temporomandibular joint in the jaw. Missing teeth also can make dental hygiene more difficult, leading to gum disease and tooth decay.
Structure
The teeth on each side of the missing tooth serve as anchors for the bridge. The bridge may be fixed to the adjacent teeth with crowns or resin. A dental bridge may be made of porcelain, metal or a combination of these materials.
Conventional Bridge
The support teeth may first need to be built up if they're badly broken or decayed. A conventional bridge requires the dentist to shape the adjacent teeth and place dental crowns on top of them. The dentist then attaches an artificial tooth known as a pontic to the crowns.
Resin-Bonded Bridge
The dentist applies resin to the adjacent teeth in order to attach the pontic. Resin-bonded bridges require the patient's gums to be healthy, and this type of bridge shouldn't be attached to teeth with extensive fillings. The resin-bonded bridge is less obvious and most often is used to replace the front teeth.
Procedure
The dentist administers a local anesthetic, shapes the support teeth and installs the crowns. The dentist will take impressions of your teeth with a putty-like substance and create a temporary bridge; the impressions are sent to a technician who will make the bridge. On a subsequent office visit, your dentist will fit the permanent bridge and cement it into place.
