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Bridges

Dental Bridges

A bridge is essentially used to replace a missing or number of missing teeth. Depending on the state of the tooth adjacent to the missing tooth and the way that your teeth meet together will depend on the type of bridge that will be best for you.

The most minimally invasive types of bridge are known as Maryland style bridges. This involves placing a thin wing usually a piece of precious metal on the back the the adjacent tooth. Attached to this wing is the replacement porcelain tooth. Click here to see an example of minimal bridges.

With the advances in dental materials, we can use metal-free materials. These are now very strong and provide a totally tooth coloured solution to the missing tooth.

A different type of bridge is known as a conventional fixed bridge. This consists of a cap or crown on the teeth either side of the missing tooth. These are then linked together to support the missing tooth.

Depending on your clinical situation the bridge may need to be supported at only one end or both. We will carefully assess your bite in order to provide the best solution for you.

In some cases, if the tooth has not had any previous dental work, cutting down the tooth is considered very destructive. In this case, it may be better to consider dental implant treatment.

There is a wealth of clinical research to show that a single dental implant is more cost effective and better for your teeth in the long term compared to a three unit conventional fixed bridge.

If you would like to discuss this with us then please do not hesitate to contact us.