What are dental bridges?

A dental bridge by definition is a manmade structure connecting two adjacent teeth or dental implants to replace a tooth that is missing. An ideal dental bridge performs the function of bridging the gap created by a missing tooth and replacing the missing tooth with a part of the dental bridge.

The preparation process of dental bridges starts with the preparation of the adjacent teeth followed by the taking of impressions. These impressions are similar to a negative of a photograph. Once the impressions have been taken, they are sent to a dental lab. Using the impressions, the dental lab starts the fabrication process of the dental bridge and until the fabrication is complete, the patient is given a temporary restoration to wear so that the prepared teeth are protected. Following a time period of about two to three weeks, the patient is requested to come back for an appointment to remove the temporary restoration and the permanent dental bridge is then placed, adjusted for necessary changes and cemented in place.

A well prepared and placed dental bridge typically lasts ten or more years. If patients take care of them with dedication and follow proper oral hygiene practices, then dental bridges can certainly last a lifetime.

A dental bridge placement procedure is typically performed on a patient under the influence of local anesthesia. As a result, the procedure doesn’t cause significant amount of pain.

Patients who have dental bridges need to adhere to special oral hygiene practices to maintain good dental health. They must not only brush the area similar to natural teeth but also floss below and beneath the bridge and between the bridge and gum tissue. Flossing can normally be done by using a floss threader or floss aid. It looks like a flexible plastic sewing needle which helps to get the floss underneath the bridge so that proper flossing can be done between the bridge and gum tissue.

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