All about dental bridges

Our teeth are comprised of a crown and a root. When a tooth is damaged it is often sufficient to do a normal dental filling. In cases where the damage is such that a dental filling is insufficient one would generally attach a new dental crown to the tooth.

In cases when the tooth is so severely damaged that the dental crown cannot be fixed, the tooth must be removed. In these cases dental tooth implants or dental bridges are the only methods that can fully restore appearance and function. On this page you can read more about dental bridges.

A dental bridge is a fixed tooth replacer that replaces one or more teeth. It is attached to the teeth on either side of the missing tooth.

When is a dental bridge the best solution?

In order to replace lost teeth with a dental bridge there must be enough teeth left in the mouth to provide secure fixture for the dental bridge. Neither can the gap between the remaining teeth be too wide for reasons of durability.

If the supporting teeth contain large fillings or damages then a bridge is often a good alternative since the dentist will most likely want to rub the healthy teeth down. If the supporting teeth are completely healthy, lacking fillings and damages then a tooth implant may be a better alternative. Treatment on healthy teeth is avoided preferably.

An alternative to a normal dental bridge can be a so called resin-bonded bridge or Maryland-bonded bridge that is fused to metal bands that are then bonded to the back of the teeth using resin. Therefore a resin-bonded bridge leaves the supporting teeth virtually untouched. Unfortunately a resin-bonded bridge can losen more easily than a normal dental bridge. Resin-bonded/Maryland-bonded bridges are often used as temporary solutions prior to dental bridges.

Cosmetic dentistry

The dental bridge procedure

A dental bridge procedure will require at least two visits to the dentist. The first one involves tooth preparation prior to the installation on the dental bridge and during the second visit the dental bridge is put in place.

1. Preparatory treatment

The aim of the preparatory treatment is to rub down the adjacent teeth in order to create a good fixture for the dental bridge. Then an imprint and colour analysis is performed.

In many cases the supportive teeth are often in such condition that greater preparatory measures are necessary. Sometimes an old root filling needs to be redone, or if the tooth’s nerve is damaged then a root filling will be needed.

In some cases there is not enough tooth left in order to attach a dental crown to the supporting teeth. This will require using a splint. A splint replaces the lack of tooth and is cemented into the root in order to provide sufficient support for a dental crown.

Often the preparatory treatment is finished off with the dentist applying a temporary replacement that the patients will wear until it is time to install the permanent dental bridge.

The imprint of the teeth, gap and surrounding tissue is sent to a dental technological laboratory that will construct the dental bridge.

Dental bridges are made of either porcelain material and/or metal (gold, titanium) with porcelain bonding.

Porcelain dental bridges have aesthetical and biological advantages. They are better accepted by the mouth and the porcelain offers an appearance that practically looks like normal teeth.

The problem with entirely ceramic dental bridges is that they break easier than those built onto a metal frame. However, today there are new ceramic materials that often replace the metal found in dental bridges. The most well-known is Zirconium which had been proven to work as well as the metal based dental bridges.

2. Installing the dental bridge

After two weeks, once the dental bridge has been manufactured it is time for another dentist appointment. There the dentist will try the dental bridge and if it fits it will be bonded to the adjacent support teeth.

In many cases one will be handed the dental bridge temporarily in order to see and feel if it fits and if one if happy with the colours and shape.

Depending on the choice of material, the patient’s hygiene, care and the status of the supporting teeth a dental bridge has longevity of about 15 years. Although in many cases they last even longer.

Cost of dental bridges

A dental bridge costs from £300- £800 in the UK. The cost variation depends on how many teeth are to be replaced, the quality of the supporting teeth, which material the dental bridge is made out of and the clinics fee.

Dental bridge work can be done on the NHS but it will fall into the top band of £195, also be aware that the materials used may not be as good as if having it done privately.
For those who cannot afford to pay for their bridge in cash it is possible to borrow money. You can read more about this on the page about care and treatments.

Dental bridges – further information and possibilities

Do you have more questions about dental bridges or would you like to take step closer to your treatment. If so, choose one of the alternatives below: