Missing teeth can have profound effects on your ability to chew, speak clearly, and your appearance. Consequences of missing teeth include significant nutritional changes, obesity, diabetes, coronary artery disease, and some forms of cancer.1 When you have a tooth missing, a bridge can be a cost-effective solution to restore your mouth to its most natural state possible.
A bridge is a type of denture built to replace one or more missing teeth. It looks and functions like natural teeth. A bridge typically consists of two "retainer crowns" placed on the natural (abutment) teeth on each side of the missing tooth, along with a replacement tooth that fills the space in between. Other configurations are possible based on your needs.
Bridges are often called "fixed bridges" or "fixed partial dentures." They are referred to as "fixed" because the bridge is cemented onto the abutment teeth. Unlike a "removable partial denture," a fixed bridge can only be taken out by a dentist.
There are many types of bridges, including cantilever bridges, resin-bonded (a.k.a. Maryland) bridges, segmented bridges, and implant-supported bridges. There are also many materials available for bridges. Your dentist will explain the options that are available for your specific situation.
The advantages of a bridge include:
The most notable disadvantage of a bridge is that it requires your dentist to place crowns on the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth. This involves removing tooth structure from healthy teeth. The impact to healthy teeth, combined with other factors such as the risk to additional healthy teeth in the event the bridge fails, may lead to greater long-term costs and oral health concerns compared to other treatment options. With a bridge, if one tooth develops a problem, all of the teeth in the bridge are affected.
The steps below describe the traditional process for a bridge to replace one missing tooth. You should expect two office visits to complete the treatment; one to prepare your teeth and build a temporary bridge, and another to install your permanent bridge. If there are additional problems with your tooth structure, or if the bridge is replacing multiple teeth, your procedure time and steps may vary.
Your dental team will give you instructions on how to take care of both your temporary and permanent bridges. You should request a copy of the instructions. Although the instructions may seem straightforward at the time of your dental appointment, you may have questions and need to refer to them later.
After you leave your dentist's office and while you are still numb:
Temporary cement is not as strong as permanent cement. It allows the temporary bridge to be removed by your dentist without damaging your abutment teeth. Because the temporary cement is not as strong as permanent cement, a temporary bridge may become loose or detached. To reduce the risk of this happening, avoid chewing hard or sticky foods.
When you floss, pull the floss gently out the sides between the temporary bridge and the adjacent teeth rather than pulling it upwards. You will not be able to floss between the connected teeth of the bridge. Still, it will be necessary to clean under it using either specially shaped brushes provided by your dentist or a floss threader. The most common reason that bridges fail is tooth decay on the abutment teeth, which generally begins to form beneath the replacement tooth. This is why it is essential to thoroughly clean under your temporary bridge every day as directed by your dental team. This is true of the permanent bridge as well.
If a temporary bridge loosens, detaches, or breaks, your natural teeth may drift. As a result, your permanent bridge may require adjustments to fit properly. This movement can begin to occur as quickly as 24 hours after your temporary bridge is placed. If you feel your temporary bridge is loose or broken, contact your dentist to get it back into position or repaired as soon as possible.
There are frequently other tooth-replacement options that you may consider. Your dentist can explain your options, including the pros and cons of each.
Plan Coverage Disclaimer
Services described in this resource may not be covered by your dental plan. Your dental plan administrator may also place limits on services, or some of the services may be eligible medical plan expenses. Other services may be subject to review for dental necessity. This may affect the services your plan will cover and the amount your plan considers to be an eligible dental plan expense. Consider submitting a pre-treatment estimate before services are rendered. Please refer to your certificate for coverage details.
Last updated: 4/6/2021 • Medical review: Thomas J. Greany DDS, 12/22/2020
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