What is a dental bridge?
Dental bridges are prosthetic devices used for replacing one or more missing teeth. They are permanent fixtures that get placed between healthy teeth, effectively ‘bridging the gap’ left by one or two missing teeth. The dental bridge is secured in place with dental crowns which attach to the two teeth on either side of the gap.
Dental bridges are custom made just for you. This means they can be colour matched to your natural teeth too, creating a perfectly natural-looking finish. Our dentists may recommend a dental bridge to:
- close a gap created by missing teeth
- preserve the appearance of your smile
- avoid your teeth shifting out of place into space created by missing teeth
- restore your smile
The dental bridge process
Getting a dental bridge usually takes around two or three appointments, beginning with a consultation to determine your suitability for the procedure. While the exact process may differ slightly from one patient to another, you can expect it to follow these general steps:
- Your dentist will numb the area before they begin the dental bridge procedure, so you shouldn’t feel a thing.
- Once the area is totally numb, your dentist will start to prepare each tooth on either side of the gap – these are the teeth that will support your bridge.
- After the preparation is complete, your dentist will take impressions of your teeth for the custom dental bridge and supporting dental crowns to be created from.
- Your dentist may then fit a temporary bridge while you wait for yours to be manufactured.
- When your dental bridge and dental crown are ready, your dentist will make any final fit adjustments before cementing them in place.
Long-lasting dental bridges in Pennant Hills
Getting the most out of your new dental bridge
How long a dental bridge (and its supporting crowns) last can depend on what they are made from and how well you look after them.
Below, you can find several ways of prolonging the service life of your dental prosthetics:
- Brush teeth twice daily for 2 minutes
- Floss your teeth every day
- Use toothpaste with fluoride in it
- Consume a healthy, balanced diet
- Chew hard foods with caution
- Wear a bite splint if you clench your jaw or grind your teeth at night
- Wear a sport mouthguard when taking part in contact sport
