Fixed bridges are applied by placing crowns on the abutment teeth or by bonding the artificial teeth directly to the abutment teeth. If a fixed bridge is not an option, removable bridges can be considered. They are attached to the teeth with metal clasps or by precision attachments and are removable by the patient.
If you're missing one or more teeth, you may be aware of their importance to your appearance and dental health. Your teeth work together for many daily functions from eating to speaking. With missing teeth, it's difficult to do these things. Missing teeth can and should be replaced. Fixed bridges are a great way to restore your dental health and appearance.
What exactly is a bridge or fixed partial denture?
A bridge (fixed partial denture) is a device, which fills the gap where teeth are absent. Fixed bridges are bonded into place and can only be removed by a dental professional. Removable bridges, as the name implies, can be taken out and cleaned. Fixed bridges offer more stability than their removable counterparts.
Why do I need a bridge?
Oral functionality and appearance are important reasons for wearing a bridge. A bridge helps support your lips and cheeks. The loss of a back tooth may cause your mouth to sink and your face to look older.
Dental health is the most important reason for a bridge. Teeth were designed to complement each other. Unusual stresses are placed on the gums and other oral tissues when teeth are missing, causing a number of potentially harmful disorders.
Increased risk of gum disease has proven to be one of the worst side effects of missing teeth and can be minimized with a bridge.
Missing teeth can cause speech disorders as they are used to make many of the sounds we use to speak clearly.
Missing teeth can also place increased stress on your jaw joint and help lead to TMJ issues.
How is a bridge attached?
The attachment procedure usually takes two or three appointments to complete. At the first appointment Dr. Breiterman will prepare the teeth on either side of the gap by removing a portion of the enamel and dentin.
Since the bridge must be fabricated very precisely to ensure correct bite and to match the opposing tooth, impressions of the teeth are taken and sent to a lab where the bridge will be constructed.
Fixed bridges are typically cemented to the natural teeth next to the space left by the missing tooth. A pontic (false tooth) replaces the lost tooth. Crowns, which are cemented onto the natural teeth, provide support for the bridge.
What materials are used?
Bridges can be constructed from gold alloys, non-precious alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials. Porcelain is placed on either precious or non-precious metal. In our practice, any bridge using a metal foundation is made with the highest gold content possible that will sustain the occlusal forces. In most cases that mean 87% gold. Unlike most grey metal foundation crowns with lower gold content that are used in dentistry today, the higher content gold is more biocompatible. In addition, unlike most dental metals used, it is yellow. That means that we are able to produce crowns that have a warmer, more natural color. This will help avoid that ugly dark line around the gum that many people associate with crowns.
How do I take care of my bridge?
A strict regimen of brushing and flossing will keep the bridge and surrounding teeth clean. This is of critical importance as the bridge relies on the neighboring teeth for support.