So, you are missing a tooth or two (or three) and you are looking for a way to complete your smile. This is a very wise choice, as avoiding tooth replacement can bring with it a slew of negative side effects (like misalignment). While you may feel quite motivated about addressing your tooth loss, you may find along the way that your knowledge of different treatments could use a bit of sprucing up. Let’s get started with an introduction to dental bridges.
What’s A Bridge Like?
A dental bridge is a fixed prosthetic device that will replace your missing teeth. Fixed means that it won’t come in and out of your smile but that instead, we will bond it in place for long-term, daily wear. It’s called a bridge because it is a single series of prosthetic teeth. They connect side-by-side, all in a row. On each end, a dental crown composes the portion meant to fit securely over your natural teeth that sit on each side of your tooth loss space. The remaining artificial teeth (which we know as “pontics”) fill that space. We have therefore “bridged” the opening.
Who Is It For?
A dental bridge isn’t for everyone. First, as you may have noticed, it’s a good choice for someone seeking out a fixed option (rather than a removable option). In addition, you will qualify to receive a bridge only if the following is true:
- You are missing no more than three teeth
- The teeth you are missing (if more than one) sit next to one another
- The remaining teeth over which we will place the end crowns of the bridge are healthy
