A dental bridge is a custom laboratory made device used to literally “bridge” the gap when you have one or more missing teeth. On each side it attaches, like a crown, onto the teeth adjacent to the gap and in the middle is the prosthetic tooth or teeth. This effectively attaches artificial teeth to your adjacent natural teeth (also called your abutment teeth). 

If you are missing teeth, you already know how that can affect your day-to-day activity. What you may be less aware of, however, is how missing teeth can affect your overall dental health. In addition to affecting chewing and talking, missing teeth can also affect the surrounding teeth – making them more susceptible to shifting. By replacing missing teeth, you are not merely protecting your vanity but your dental health.

If you are getting a dental bridge, the procedure may take two or three visits to the dentist to complete. During your first appointment, your dentist at Central Oakville Dental Care will carefully prepare and shape the abutment teeth and take impressions to an expert Dental Technician at a Dental Laboratory. A temporary bridge is usually fitted while the bridge is being constructed. At the second appointment, the bridge is tried to ensure it works precisely and in harmony with your bite. The bridge is then cemented onto the abutment teeth, and the taste is rechecked for accuracy.

Dental bridges may be constructed from porcelain, gold alloys, other types of metal, or a combination of these materials. Often, porcelain will be bonded to a metal alloy to provide the patient with the durability of metal and a more appealing look of porcelain.

To make sure that your dental bridge will last for as long as possible, it is essential that you take good care of it and the surrounding natural teeth. This involves meticulous brushing, flossing, interproximal brushes, regular dental check-ups and limited sugar consumption between meals. If you wear a night guard, sometimes this may need replacement if the bridge alters the contours of the teeth significantly.

A dental bridge may be the right solution for you if you have one or more missing teeth. Call us today to arrange an appointment at Central Oakville Dental Care.