What is a dental bridge?
A dental bridge is a type of dental restoration that is placed on damaged or non-esthetic- stained teeth, to reinforce the teeth and maintain its integrity. The final bridge looks and feels like your natural teeth. If well-made it will feel like your own teeth. Porcelain can be perfectly molded to show the original appearance of your natural dentition. Bridges connect teeth and replacing missing teeth in between your natural teeth. Implant bridges connect dental implants.
Type of materials used for dental bridges:
- Full metal bridge: usually fabricated in the posterior- molar- non esthetic region. High gold content precious metal crowns.
- Porcelain fused to metal bridge: the metal substructure is beneath the porcelain layer. Esthetic appearance, however sometimes the metal can show through. These crowns are nickel free- anti -allergenic frames.
- Zirconia bridges: Strong, no metal solutions, ideal for posterior teeth and implant crowns or bridges. Anterior teeth can be done with these materials, however high opacity of these materials is sometimes evident.
- Full porcelain bridges: the most esthetic version of porcelain at our office. Single anterior crowns can be shade matched using these materials. Brand names like e-max is an example.
Step by step guide for your dental bridge fabrication appointments:
1st appointment:
o Finding the need for a dental bridge at a checkup or after a dentist appointment
o Accepting the proposed treatment plan
2nd appointment:
o Local anesthesia- all these procedures are completely pain free
o Preparation of teeth
o Temporization of the prepared teeth with an esthetic temporary crown or bridge to protect from hot, cold and bite forces.
o Impression of your prepared tooth. It can be a digital impression or an analog one. The dentist will decide which suits better your case.
3rd appointment:
o Delivery of the final bridge
