Bridges
A Bridge replaces a missing tooth or teeth
It can be attached in a number of ways:
- It may be that the two teeth nearest on either side of the gap are prepared and then have crowns fixed to them with the missing teeth suspended in the middle.
- Some bridges are stuck to the inside of the teeth on either side of the gap.
- Sometimes a bridge is only fixed to a tooth on one side of the gap.
Bridges can be made out of different materials – some of the more common are:
- Porcelain bonded to precious metal.
- Porcelain bonded to gold.
- Porcelain alone.
To have a bridge made you will need to have several appointments. At the first appointment dentist will make the teeth that will support the bridge numb using local anaesthetic. The dentist will only do this if they need to prepare the surfaces of the teeth next to the gap. They will the use a soft mouldable material to take impressions of your mouth – These impressions will then be sent to a dental technician who will use plaster to make exact models of your teeth and how they bite together.
Once they have these models they can then begin to construct the bridge. Sometimes if the bridge is large or you don’t bite together correctly it may take a few appointments to try the bridge in and send it away again. Until it is correct. Once the dentist and the technician are happy with what has been constructed the dentist will then fix the bridge. This will be done using cement and in most cases does not require local anaesthetics.
The dentist will then arrange for you to see the hygienist so that they can explain and show you how to look after the bridge and maintain the oral hygiene in that area.
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