Bridges

A Bridge is a fixed prosthesis, a treatment used to replace one or more missing teeth. It is held firmly in place by healthy teeth beside the missing one(s). A bridge helps to create a normal bite, prevent stress on the dental ridge, prevent movement of adjacent teeth, slow decay in abnormal areas, and delay the onset of periodontal disease. If you lose a tooth, it’s important to replace it with a false (or artificial) tooth as soon as possible. Typically, the process requires at least two appointments. During the first appointment, we will prepare your teeth by removing some of the enamel and filling to allow enough room for the porcelain or metal. We then create an impression of your teeth, and set a temporary bridge in place. The impression gives us an accurate representation of your mouth and allows us to replace what is missing by fabricating a working model. A dental laboratory uses the model to construct a bridge that will fit your teeth precisely. During your final appointment, we replace the temporary bridge with the new bridge which we permanently cement into place. Once put in, a bridge cannot be removed.