What is a Bridge?

A dental bridge consists of two or more planned fitted crowns that are placed on the supporting teeth on both the sides of the space formed by your missing tooth or teeth. Fixed bridges are strong and reliable and feel and look very much like natural teeth!

Bridges have been an indispensable part of modern dentistry prior to the use of implants and were the preferred method for replacing teeth. Bridge technology is still reliable and therefore still in use.

How a Bridge is designed?

In order to design and construct a dental bridge, two stable, healthy supporting teeth must be available. The procedure involves preparing them by contouring and reshaping the supporting teeth. The next step involves taking impressions and sending to the lab for the fabrication of the dental bridge. At Smiling Faces ,we provide the temporary bridges which help in reducing the sensitivity and make the patient comfortable till the final bridge is delivered.

Dental bridges can last 10 – 15 years and even longer if the supporting teeth remain stable, and if your personal hygiene and home care is maintained at a high level.

What are the advantages of dental bridges over the dental implants?

It is the most frequently asked question by everyone and should be considered while replacing the teeth. In some of the cases the teeth adjoining to the missing teeth are already fractured or carious and need repair by crowns. In such cases a bridge is a preferred option.

Many a times aesthetics may also guide us to decide on a traditional bridge over an implant. Sometimes placing an implant can jeopardise the gum situation if the gum height is already low because of bone loss. Another advantage of advising a dental bridge is that it is faster to deliver as compared to implants and is economical too. At Smiling Faces this procedure is performed by the Prosthodontists who are specialised in replacing the missing teeth. Another reason why installing dental bridges are good is that some patients are not capable of undergoing implant or other surgical procedures due to cancer, uncontrolled diabetes, certain medications or auto-immune disease.

Also people may choose to go with a bridge if they have very little bone, which requires an extensive bone grafting procedure in order to safely support an implant.