Tooth Bridges

Albany, New York

What is a Bridge?

Briefly, a dental bridge is an appliance that’s cemented to the neighboring teeth to replace one or several missing teeth.

How are bridges made?

It’s called a “bridge” for good reason, as it is constructed so as to bridge the gap in your teeth and fill it in. It has 3 components:

A central artificial tooth to fill the gap (pontic tooth)
Some type of attachment between the pontic tooth and the neighboring teeth on each side

That attachment varies in the different types of bridges.

Traditional bridge

This has the central pontic tooth, plus two crowns, one on each side, which are cemented to the pontic tooth, and to the “abutment” teeth on each side of the gap, so that the gap is now permanently filled.

Resin bonded bridge (Maryland bridge)

This has the pontic tooth fused to metal bands, which are in turn bonded to the back of the abutment teeth with resin cement. If you have teeth missing in the front of the mouth, this is a good option.

Cantilever bridge

This has the central pontic tooth, but on one side it is cemented to 2 adjacent crowns, and on the other side, to none. So the total bridge arches out into the space of the missing tooth and extends downwards to fill it. It’s used when there are abutment teeth only on one side.

Benefits of a dental bridge

Depending on where the missing tooth was, the bridge can improve the clarity of your speech
Chewing will be easier with no gap in your teeth
Your natural teeth will be held in their proper positions and won’t drift
The forces of your bite will be distributed evenly
The shape of your face will be maintained, which could otherwise have become a bit sunken or asymmetrical from the gap in your teeth

How is a bridge procedure done?

It will be done in 2 appointments, and sometimes more if further adjustment is needed to make it fit correctly.

In the first appointment, the two abutment teeth are prepared. Dr. Miller will re-shape them by removing some of the enamel, so that the crowns will fit over them without encroaching on the space of the neighboring teeth.

Then impressions will be made of your teeth, to be a model for the dental laboratory when it makes the pontic tooth and the 2 crowns.

Dr. Miller will make a temporary bridge you can wear while the lab builds your permanent one. It will protect your exposed teeth and gums.
In the second appointment, the temporary bridge is removed and the new one fitted. It will be adjusted so as to be:
- omfortable, and
- In alignment with your bite.

This fitting stage is different for each person. Several visits might be necessary and Dr. Miller might use temporary cement for a few weeks until the bridge is ready for the permanent cement.

Maintenance of bridges

Good oral hygiene is essential if you have a bridge in place. If food becomes stuck in crevices, bacteria collect and can cause infection. Infection, besides being painful, can lead to eventual loss of the bridge. Therefore:

Brush your teeth carefully after each meal
Use fluoride toothpaste and a soft brush
Floss every day to remove particles of food and any buildup on the teeth
Surfaces that are unreachable by the toothbrush
Have your teeth professionally cleaned twice a year
Limit your consumption of starches and sugar, as these foods create destructive acids that can damage your teeth

With good care, your bridge can last as long as 8 or 10 years.

For your amazing Albany smile makeover, call or email the office of Thomas R. Miller, DDS today.