Dental bridges close gaps in the mouth that may be caused by missing teeth. The bridge is made of two crowns that are placed on the tooth on either side of the gap. The teeth used to anchor are called abutment teeth, false teeth are placed in the gap between them. The false teeth placed in the gap are called pontics and are made of gold, alloy and porcelain or a mixture of all three. The bridges need support from normal teeth or implants. Bridges help in restoring a person’s smile, help to regain their normal chewing and eating abilities, keep the face in shape and prevent other teeth from moving out of position.

There are three kinds of bridges, traditional bridges, cantilever bridges and Maryland bonded bridges. In fitting a traditional bridge the dentist will place a crown or implant on either side of the missing teeth and a pontic will be placed in the gap. This kind of bridge is very common and is made of porcelain that is jointed to metal or ceramic.

The cantilever bridge can be used only when there is a tooth on one side of the gap. Maryland bonded bridges are made of plastic teeth and gums, which are supported by a metal frame. Wings made of metal are bonded to the existing teeth, on either side of the bridge.

On your first visit the dentist will check if your teeth and gums are fit to allow a bridge to be fixed. If the dentist feels your teeth are fit you will receive a local anesthetic so that the dentist can fix the abutment teeth. If your teeth are decayed, the dentist will have to repair them so that they can support the bridge. After the anesthesia the dentist will prepare to fix the abutment teeth by reshaping the remaining teeth and removing portions of the enamel. This is done to allow the crown to fit on the reshaped tooth. Next an impression of the tooth will be taken and sent to a laboratory where the bridge will be made.

A patient may need to visit the dentist a few times to ensure the metal frame of the bridge fits right. The cost of the dental bridge depends on what type of bridge is selected. A typical bridge lasts between 5-15 years, however if proper oral hygiene is practiced, a permanent bridge can last for more than 10 years.