Bridges - What are they ?

Bridges replace missing teeth by using teeth adjacent to the gap as supports.
A bridge is usually made from precious metal and porcelain.

Adhesive bridges

Adhesive bridges are stuck on to the adjacent teeth and involve only minimal preparation of the teeth. They do not involve cutting down of the teeth.An adhesive bridge can have a metal pad which is bonded to the back of the adjacent tooth or it can have a porcelain pad which can be bonded to the front of the tooth.

What are the benefits of bridgework ?

Bridges are fixed as opposed to dentures which are removable. This can be a very important psychological factor.

A bridge can improve appearance, chewing ability and sometimes speech. If it is well maintained a bridge can last for many years but much depends on the structure of the tooth/teeth under the crown.

Fig.1 Missing tooth
Fig.2 Missing tooth from front
Fig.3 Metal backing of bridge on back of tooth
Fig.4 Bridge in position