Dental Bridges
A Dental bridge is a procedure that helps restore lost & damaged teeth. It is anchored to the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth. Once the bridge is in place, it can last for 10 to 15 years, or longer, as long as you maintain good oral hygiene and visit your dentist regularly.
Types of Dental Bridges
Dental bridges are made from different materials, including zirconium and porcelain. The type of dental bridge used will depend on where your missing tooth is located. Below are the types of bridges used by dentists.
Fixed bridge: This type of bridge fills gaps by connecting an artificial tooth in between two crowns. The crowns are used to support the bridge and are then cemented to the teeth that are adjacent thus making the bridge look and feel natural. This type of bridge is "permanent".
Maryland bridge: This type of bridge is sometimes used for the front teeth. A resin is used to bond the bridge. Moreover, it uses metal wings to attach to the supporting teeth.
Cantilever bridge: This type of bridge is similar to the fixed bridge. However, it is bonded only to a single tooth.
How Is It Done?
Before bridges are installed, the dentist needs to file down two healthy teeth in order to prepare them for the bridge. If you don’t have adjacent healthy teeth, your dentist may suggest giving you an implant. Once the healthy teeth are prepared, the dentist will take impressions of your teeth to create a mold. The mold will be used to create a permanent bridge. Meanwhile, as the bridge is being created, temporarily, your dentist will fit a temporary one to safeguard the exposed teeth. The permanent bridge is cemented once it is ready.