What is a bridge?

A bridge is a way of replacing missing teeth without using a denture. The missing tooth is replaced by a false one that is fixed to one or more of the neighbouring teeth. The bridge is either held in by crowns or by small metal wings which are glued to the back of other teeth.

Once a bridge is fixed in place it will usually last for many years. It will look and feel like there is no missing tooth.

Why replace a missing tooth?

Loss of a tooth can have many undesirable consequences which include:

• Loss of appearance – this is the obvious one. depending on which tooth is lost, it can have a significant detrimental effect on your smile.
• Loss of function – the remaining teeth will have more work to do so tooth loss will impact on chewing efficiency
• Undesirable tooth movements – if a tooth is lost, the teeth on either side of the gap or in the opposing jaw will move into the space. This can cause food packing leading to dental decay or localised gum disease. Uncontrolled tooth movement may also lead to harmful tooth contacts when chewing; amongst other things these can impact on the jaw joint causing headaches and muscle pain.

If you lose a tooth book an appointment to see one of our experienced dentists who can advise you on the best solutions for you.