Bridge

Nothing beats your natural teeth, but sometimes you lose a tooth or it becomes seriously damaged. In the event of tooth loss, it is important to replace it with an artificial tooth as soon as possible to prevent misalignment of the remaining teeth and causing possible jaw problems. Misaligned teeth are more difficult to clean, more prone to periodontal disease (gum disease) and cavities. If you are missing one or more teeth, your dentist may recommend replacing them with a bridge, a prosthesis or even an implant.

The bridge, also called a “fixed bridge” or “fixed dental prosthesis,” is a dental restoration that replaces one or more missing teeth. It is usually made up of an artificial tooth fixed between 2 crowns and extends from one end to the other of the edentulous area. (The crown is a hollow artificial tooth that is attached to a natural tooth or dental implant.) The bridge is held firmly in place by neighboring teeth. It is permanently attached and cannot be removed.

How do you make a bridge?

If there are intact, healthy teeth on either side of an edentulous space (where one or more teeth are missing), your dentist trims the healthy teeth to prepare them for the bridge. If your teeth are not healthy or if you do not have enough tooth structure to maintain a bridge, dental implants can be placed surgically.

The dentist then takes an impression of your teeth to create a model. The latter will be used to manufacture, tailor-made and in a single piece, the artificial tooth(s) and the 2 crowns. This is called the bridge.

In the meantime, your dentist places a temporary bridge to protect exposed teeth and gums.

During your second visit, your dentist removes the temporary bridge and places the custom-made permanent bridge in your mouth. It cements the crowns to the 2 healthy teeth or attaches it to the dental implants on each side of the edentulous space.

Caring for your deck

A well-maintained bridge can have an approximate lifespan of 10 years or even more depending on the situation. As with natural teeth, you should brush and floss your bridge every day. Your dentist will show you how to use a threader to floss down the center of the bridge, under and around the artificial tooth(s). Regular dental exams and professional cleaning are strongly recommended to ensure the longevity of your bridge. If you have an implant bridge, your dentist will show you how to care for it effectively.