treatments
Bridge (Fixed Prosthetics)
Also know as a partial denture, a bridge is a restoration that replaces or spans the space where one or more teeth have been lost. This restoration is permanently cemented.
Why have a bridge? The loss of a back tooth may cause your mouth to sink and your face to look older. A bridge helps maintain the natural shape of your face and helps prevent movement of teeth when some are missing. Missing teeth also affect the way you chew and speak.
 Immediately after a tooth is lost |
 If a tooth is not replaced, the remaining teeth can drift out of position |
How is a bridge attached? A fixed bridge is commonly cemented to the natural teeth next to the space left by the missing teeth. A false tooth (a pontic) replaces the lost tooth, and crowns on either side of the bridge provide support.
Taking care of your bridge: It is very important to keep your remaining teeth healthy. A bridge can lose its support if the surrounding teeth or the jawbone that holds it becomes damaged by dental disease. Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, and cleaning between the teeth and under the bridge with floss or other interdental cleaners, is essential to maintain the bridge foundation.
This is a short summary of "Why Do I Need a Bridge? " brochure published by the American Dental Association. Pick up a detailed brochure at our office.
