A cemented or fixed dental bridge is used to replace one or more missing teeth, helping to restore function and/or appearance. A fixed dental bridge needs at least one tooth on each side of the gap to serve as support and attachment points.
Dental bridge procedure
First, the teeth on both sides of the missing tooth or teeth are prepared for crowns. A dental laboratory then creates a bridge out of one of three materials: porcelain fused to a cast metal framework, porcelain fused to a tooth-colored framework, or a full gold bridge. The teeth with the crowns serve as “abutments” to the bridge, and the missing teeth that occupy the space between the abutments are called pontics. The dental bridge connects the abutments and pontics.
Dental bridge benefits
A dental bridge is helpful because it restores both function and appearance where needed. Losing a tooth can lead to several issues, including reduced chewing ability, increased stress on the remaining teeth to “pick up the slack,” shifting of the teeth behind and above the missing tooth, which can make other teeth non-functional, and continue the cycle. Additionally, losing front teeth creates an aesthetic challenge for most people.
Dental bridge procedure time
A cemented bridge is typically made in two visits: the first is the preparation appointment, and the second is the bridge insertion.