Bridges

All of your teeth play an important role in speaking, chewing and in maintaining proper alignment of other teeth. Tooth loss doesn't necessarily have to occur as you age, but if you do lose teeth, they must be replaced to maintain proper function of your mouth. Fortunately, there are options for correcting tooth loss.

A bridge is a one way replace missing teeth. It fills a gap where teeth are absent. It attaches a pontic, (an artificial tooth that replaces the missing tooth) to adjacent natural teeth, called abutment teeth. Fixed bridges then are typically cemented to the natural teeth next to the space left by the missing tooth.

Dental Bridge Procedure

The attachment procedure usually takes two or three appointments to complete. At the first appointment, your dentist will prepare the teeth on either side of the gap by removing a portion of the enamel and dentin. Since the bridge must be fabricated very precisely to ensure correct bite and to match the opposing tooth, impressions of the teeth are taken and sent to a lab where the bridge will be constructed.