Bridges
If you have
a missing tooth/teeth and there is a tooth on
each side of the open space a bridge is the
ideal method of tooth replacement. With
preparation of the two teeth on opposing ends
replacement teeth can be made and fused to these
two abutment teeth to close this open space.
This is called a bridge because it bridges the
open space. When a tooth is lost and not
replaced it can cause several problems including
tooth drifting, sore jaws or even gum disease.
A fixed bridge is used to replace one or more
missing teeth. As with crowns a bridge can
be made of porcelain, metal or a combination of
both. The procedure for bridges mirrors
the procedure for crowns (caps). At your first appointment Dr. Sanchez will prepare the
teeth, take an impression to be sent to a
quality lab and a tooth colored temporary will
be placed. Once we receive your bridge
back from the lab we will call you for your next
appointment. During this next appointment
your bridge will be permanently cemented.
A bridge, also known as a fixed partial denture, is a dental restoration used to replace a missing tooth by joining permanently to adjacent teeth or dental implants.
There are different types of bridges, depending on how they are fabricated and the way they anchor to the adjacent teeth. Conventionally, bridges are made using the indirect method of restoration however, bridges can be fabricated directly in the mouth using such materials as composite resin.
The materials used for the bridges include gold, porcelain fused to metal, or in the correct situation porcelain alone. The amount and type of reduction done to the abutment teeth varies slightly with the different materials used. The recipient of such a bridge must be careful to clean well under this prosthesis.
When restoring an edentulous space with a fixed partial denture that will crown the teeth adjacent to the space and bridge the gap with a pontic, or "dummy tooth", the restoration is referred to as a bridge. Besides all of the preceding information that concerns single-unit crowns, bridges possess a few additional considerations when it comes to case selection and treatment planning, tooth preparation and restoration fabrication. |
