DDI (Dorset)

Dental Bridges

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A dental bridge is a cost-effective and popular method of restoring artificial teeth to a gap left by one or more missing teeth, provided there are still healthy teeth surrounding it.

An Overview of Dental Bridges to Replace Missing Teeth

A bridge fixes one or more replacement teeth between two existing teeth, by attaching to them. If you have a missing tooth, it is necessary to replace it if you want to maintain good dental health. A gap means an exposed gum, which makes you more vulnerable to gum disease and tooth decay. Also, healthy teeth can drift into the space left by a missing tooth, causing alignment issues and problems throughout the mouth. The main benefits of bridges are that they are low-cost, as well as being quicker and less invasive than implants. Usually, a bridge can be completed in two visits.

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Different Types of Dental Bridge – Which Is The Best?

  1. Traditional Bridges
  2. Cantilever Bridges
  3. Composite Bridge
  4. Implant-Supported Bridges

In cases where the surrounding teeth are strong and healthy, and only one replacement tooth is needed, sometimes a different method may be used.

The Maryland Bridge is when a single replacement tooth is attached to surrounding teeth, by wings on each side of it which then embed into the healthy teeth. View Dental Bridge vs Dental Implants.

In some cases, a Cantilever bridge can be used, which is when a replacement tooth is attached on only one side.

However, this has become a less popular method of a dental bridge.

As it can cause complications due to undue strain put on the supporting teeth, cases that were once deemed appropriate for cantilever bridges are often restored by other methods.

How bridges work

To make a bridge, a dentist like Dr Philip McCauley must prepare the healthy teeth surrounding the gap.

For the traditional style of dental bridge, the two teeth on either side of the gap are shaped to accommodate caps, which look like healthy teeth.

This will occur on the first session of installing the bridge, and once the existing teeth have been shaped, a mould will be made of the area.

This mould is used to create the bridge, which consists of an artificial tooth or set of two or more teeth with caps on either side.

At the next session, the caps are fixed to the shaped teeth and the bridge is installed.

The caps join to either side of the replacement tooth, which sits in the gap, forming the bridge. This is the traditional style of a dental bridge.

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Implant secured bridges

Sometimes, bridges can be attached to dental implants; and an implant can be installed in a gap, in place of a supporting tooth, or a bridge can be attached to an existing implant.

As always, at the Dorset Dental Implant Clinic, your dentist will consult with you on a case by case basis and create a dental replacement solution that is tailored to your needs.

The Dental Bridge is a permanent tooth replacement solution which, once installed, cannot be removed at home. Like all artificial teeth, as well as your natural teeth, it will need to be carefully cleaned daily.

Your dentist will show you how to do this, and provide you with the necessary equipment.

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