BRIDGES

These have been the standard replacements for missing teeth for over forty years. Using the correct materials and procedures, quite a large space can often be replaced with a bridge. Crowns are prepared on the teeth acting as supports, these are then linked together with the crowns made to replace the missing teeth. The whole bridge, a one piece construction, is then cemented in to place on the supporting teeth, filling the space with fixed teeth.

We often prefer a bridge to replace a missing tooth, especially when the teeth either side of the space also need crowns for a satisfactory long term restorative result.

Wherever possible, we make our bridges out of pure ceramic (porcelain). Without any metal base and with modern advances in ceramic technology, they reflect and refract light similarly to tooth enamel and dentine, thus giving a very natural appearance. With the matching tooth shade taken and without lines around the crowns at the gum margins, the bridges are usually indistinguishable from the surrounding teeth.

In some situations, a metal base to the bridge is required, this then has porcelain teeth fashioned and bonded to the metal base, producing a very lifelike result.

Advantages over implants:

  • No invasive surgery required
  • A completed result can be obtained much sooner

Possible disadvantages:

  • Adjacent teeth have to be prepared for the crown supports, which we’d prefer to avoid if these teeth are previously untouched, though can be advantageous if the adjacent teeth are already heavily restored.

Implants are a well-established, tried-and-tested treatment. Our preferred Bicon system is achieving a 96% success rate. With the right care, all modern implants should last for many years.