Dental bridges

A fixed tooth, anchored to its neighbours.

A bridge spans a gap using the teeth either side as supports. It is fixed, it is quicker than an implant, and it has one real cost: those neighbouring teeth have to be cut down.

Ceramic restorations at Garden City Dental Group.

Why replace the tooth at all

01

The others move

Teeth either side drift into a gap and the opposing tooth grows down into it. A simple gap becomes a bite problem.

02

Chewing shifts

You start favouring the other side, which loads it harder and wears it faster.

03

The bone

Under a bridge the ridge is unloaded and continues to shrink. An implant is the option that addresses that.

Bridge or implant?

A bridge is the right answer when the teeth either side of the gap already need crowns, when bone or health rules out surgery, or when you need it finished in weeks rather than months.

An implant is usually the better long-term answer when those neighbours are healthy and untouched, because cutting down two sound teeth to replace one is a real price that never appears on the estimate. We will show you both, with figures.

Questions

Asked often.

How do I clean under it?

With a floss threader, an interdental brush or a water flosser. The area under the false tooth is where a bridge fails, and it takes about thirty seconds a day.

How long do they last?

Many years with good cleaning. The commonest failure is decay in one of the supporting teeth, which is preventable.

Does it hurt?

Preparation is done under local anaesthetic. Afterwards the gum around the supports can be tender for a few days.

Related treatments

Next step

Come and meet us first.

The first appointment is an examination and a conversation. There is no obligation to book treatment at the end of it.