Bridges

Dental bridges, as the name suggests, span the gap where a tooth is missing. Although a full set of natural teeth is always preferable, there may come a time when you lose a tooth or teeth and need replacements. Dr. Vandersluis can recommend a dental bridge if it is the best solution in your situation.

Benefits

If you are missing one or more teeth, having a bridge made and placed can provide you with many benefits.
• Restores your smile to the way it appeared before you lost the tooth or teeth
• Improves your ability to chew and speak normally
• Restores your natural bite position
• Prevents other teeth from drifting into the gap

Structure

A bridge is made up of a one or more pontics and attached to abutment teeth. The pontic is a false tooth. The abutment teeth are those on each side of the gap that anchor the pontic in place. Abutment teeth can either be your natural teeth or crowns attached to implants.

Preparing Abutment Teeth

The abutment teeth are prepared on your first visit to have the bridge made. The dentist shapes the tooth, removing some of the enamel, to prepare it for accepting the bridge.
After the teeth are properly prepared, the dentist takes impressions so the bridge, the crowns and the pontic can be made in the lab. He can provide you with a temporary bridge to wear until your permanent bridge is made.

Inserting the Bridge

By the time you have your second visit for this procedure, your bridge will be completed and ready to be attached to the abutment teeth. Your dentist will begin by removing the temporary bridge and giving your teeth a final examination before proceeding.
Next, the dentist checks the bridge, inserts it and makes any adjustments needed to ensure a proper fit. Depending on your particular situation and the condition of your teeth, the dentist may have you return more than once so he can check the fit and make further adjustments.
For a fixed bridge, the dentist may use a temporary dental cement to put it into place so you can wear it a while before he cements it into place permanently. Because fit is so important to the look, feel and function of your new bridge, Dr. Vandersluis takes extra care to make sure it is right before the treatment is completed.

A Long-Lasting Solution

Dental bridges typically last at least 5 years before they have to be replace. However, if you take good care of your teeth as your dentist recommends, they can last 15 years or even longer.

Taking Care of Your New Bridge

The most important thing you can do to ensure your bridge lasts as it should is to take care of the remaining teeth. Be especially careful to follow a proper daily dental hygiene routine as recommended by your dentist. Eat nutritious foods to strengthen your teeth. Follow up with your dentist at regular intervals as he recommends so he can find any problems early before they become serious. As with any dental treatment, you still need to have regular checkups and cleanings to ensure long-term success.