Smile Bright Dental

Cosmetic Dentistry

Bridges

The reason for a bridge is simple. When you are missing one or more teeth a bridge may be indicated because the gap can eventually cause the remaining teeth to drift or fall into the empty spaces. That would give you problems with your bite (the way your teeth work for you).

A bridge consists of an artificial tooth anchored to the natural teeth on each side of the gap. If a tooth has been lost due to an accident or is too badly decayed to be saved by a crown, a bridge may be a possible option to replace the missing tooth/teeth.

A bridge may also be used to:

• Improve appearance
• To prevent stresses causing damage to other teeth
• To prevent the teeth near the gap from shifting
• To maintain a natural bite
• To improve chewing ability

The bridge is cemented onto the adjusted natural teeth, this means that once in place they’re there for a long time and will mean that your teeth will both look and function naturally. The additional benefit will be to protect damaged and weakened adjacent teeth at the same time as replacing a missing tooth.

Bridges can be made from porcelain, gold and metal alloys or a combination of both materials. Porcelain is strong and can be made to match the colour of the natural teeth. While gold is used for its strength, hardness and durability. Gold is especially useful for the molars which must withstand forces of grinding and crushing. We also commonly use porcelain crowns with alloy inside to have the best of both, aesthetic and strength. Dr Chang will discuss the different types materials that can be used and discuss the best option for you and your teeth.