A dental bridge, or simply bridge, permanently attaches artificial teeth to adjacent natural teeth, called abutment teeth. Unfortunately the abutment teeth are permanently compromised; see the video clip on this page. Dental bridges are now only performed in the rare instances when dental implants are not possible.
Bridge placement usually takes two or three appointments to complete. At the first appointment the teeth on either side of the gap are prepared by removing a portion of the enamel and dentin. Accurate impressions are taken and sent to a dental laboratory where the bridge is constucted. (The typical material is porcelain fused to a gold framework; no gold is visible) The bridge is permanently cemented to the abutment teeth at the final visit.
A strict regimen of brushing and flossing will keep the bridge and surrounding teeth clean. This is of critical importance as the bridge relies on the neighboring teeth for support.
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