If you are missing one or more teeth, your dental surgeon may suggest fitting a prosthetic device to fill the gap, that is, a dental bridge. A dental bridge is a type of dental prosthesis which literally bridges the gap between two teeth. If you have lost one or two teeth due to decay or because of an accident, a bridge can make your smile complete again. Traditional tooth bridges use the adjacent teeth as anchors for the prosthesis. The prosthesis used for a fixed bridge consists of a crown on either side and one or two pontics (artificial teeth) in the middle. The crowns are hollow and fit over the neighboring teeth to secure the bridge in place.

In order for the crowns to fit properly, the anchor teeth must be filed down from their original size as part of the dental bridge procedure. These two teeth have to be strong enough to support the bridge and take the extra biting pressure. Dentists may perform root canal treatment on the anchor teeth before removing the necessary amount of enamel.

The main drawback to a fixed bridge is having to ‘sacrifice’ two healthy teeth. If you later decide to replace your bridge with an implant, the adjacent teeth will require crowns since removal of enamel is permanent.

What Are the Benefits of Dental Bridges?

Bridges can:

• Restore your smile
• Restore the ability to properly chew and speak
• Maintain the shape of your face
• Distribute the forces in your bite properly by replacing missing teeth
• Prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position
• Bridges are usually made of porcelain bonded to precious metal. Sometimes other non-precious metals are used in the base for strength. They are very much similar to the dental crown except for the matter that they replace the missing tooth also.

The best way to determine the right solution for you is to have a consultation with our dental experts.