Dental Bridges

About the Procedure

Dental bridges are one way to replace missing teeth. They attach by dental crowns to the teeth on either side of the bridge. Bridges can be used in cosmetic dentistry to replace a missing tooth for cosmetic reasons, but missing teeth can also cause significant damage to the rest of the mouth, including changing the bite, causing or exacerbating speech impediments, and jaw pain, as well as increasing the risk for periodontal disease. If left untreated, these conditions can cause a need for dental braces.

Bridges come in several different materials and forms; your dentist will help you to decide if you are a good candidate for a bridge, and what type of bridge is right for you.

What to Know Before the Procedure

The insertion of a bridge requires at least two office visits.

During the first, the dentist will explain the specifics of the procedure that you will have done, such as the material out of which the bridge will be made. The dentist will also administer anesthetic and prepare the adjacent teeth for supporting the bridge. If these teeth have significant decay, they will need to be repaired before the bridge can be inserted. The dentist will then make a mold of the area to receive the bridge. This mold will be sent to a lab to create the actual bridge, ensuring that it fits properly in your mouth. The dentist will fit you with a temporary bridge to protect the teeth and gums until the permanent bridge is inserted.

During the second visit, the dentist will ensure proper fit of the bridge, and will cement it into place. There may be some minor after-care, about which your dentist can instruct you.

What to Know After the Procedure

Bridges need proper care and maintenance in order to prevent further decay. In addition to regular brushing and flossing, you will need to use a special bridge floss threader to clean the area under and around the bridge. This cleaning should be done daily to prevent any build-up of bacteria or plaque around the bridge, which could lead to further dental problems. With proper care and treatment, your dental bridge should last for many years.

If you have a dental emergency after the procedure, be sure to contact your dentist; any trauma to the mouth may damage the bridge or surrounding teeth and need treatment. A dentist can properly assess any damage after a mouth injury.

If you Need to Travel Outside of your Local Hospital

Getting a dental bridge requires multiple visits to the dentist and may require follow-up care after the procedure. This should be taken into account when making the decision between having the procedure done domestically or internationally. Speak to several dentists to find out the specific details on how they perform the procedure, how many days are typically needed from the initial visit to completion, and ask for photographs of previous work. When talking to dentists abroad be sure to ask them about how they handle any necessary follow-up care. The decision on where to have the procedure done should be based on the time you have available, overall costs, how the dentist handles follow-up care, and the dentist’s overall skill.