Why Do I Need A Bridge

Teeth need each other for support. When a tooth is lost, the biting forces change on the teeth next to the space, and they begin to shift. When an opposing tooth no longer has anything to bite against, it begins to slowly extrude out of the socket. You may eventually end up losing that tooth, too.

As your bite changes, it becomes increasingly difficult to chew your food. This change in your bite can also cause damage to your jaw joint (the TMJ). It's also much harder to clean teeth that have shifted, so harmful plaque and bacteria accumulate in these new, hard-to-reach places. This can result in cavities, gum (periodontal) disease, and permanent bone loss. Bridges correct these problems by filling in the space left by missing or extracted teeth, stabilizing your bite and remaining teeth.

What is a bridge?

A bridge is a fixed (cemented in place) dental appliance that is used to replace one or more missing teeth. Replacing missing teeth with a bridge restores your normal bite and prevents a number of serious additional problems from developing. You can chew more easily, and your jaws, gums, and the rest of your teeth will be healthier. Bridges also improve your appearance by filling in gaps in your smile.

What material will be used to make my bridge?

Depending on the situation and the area of your mouth, bridges may be made from:

porcelain fused to an underlying metal base

gold

entirely out of porcelain

resin (a special plastic hardened in a dental laboratory)

How To Take Care Of Your Bridge

As with all of your teeth, the best way to maintain a bridge is to keep it clean.  Flossing in front of, and behind the bridge is just the same as flossing the rest of your teeth.  But you also need to floss under your bridge as well.  This is done with the aid of either a floss threader or Superfloss.  Please see our How To Floss page for more information on these products.