Dental Bridges

A bridge is worth considering when you have one or more missing teeth and want to fill the gap with a fixed, natural-looking replacement. Beyond restoring your smile, it helps in practical ways. When a gap is left unfilled, the teeth around it can gradually drift or tilt into the space, which can affect your bite and make cleaning harder over time. A bridge keeps everything in its proper place and restores your ability to chew comfortably.

Traditional dental bridges are the most common type and involve creating a crown for the tooth or implant on either side of the missing tooth, with an artificial tooth in between. Cantilever bridges are used when there is only one adjacent tooth to support the bridge. Implant-supported bridges are used when multiple teeth are missing. This involves placing implants to support the bridge.

Most bridges last somewhere between five and fifteen years, and often longer with good care, though it varies by type. Traditional and cantilever bridges typically last around ten to fifteen years; resin-bonded bridges tend to be at the shorter end and can occasionally come loose and need re-bonding, while implant-supported bridges can last considerably longer.

What makes the biggest difference is how well you look after it. The bridge itself can’t decay, but the natural teeth supporting it still can, and decay creeping in around the edges is the most common reason a bridge eventually needs replacing. Cleaning well, including under the false tooth, keeping up regular check-ups, and protecting against grinding all help your bridge last as long as possible.

Looking after a bridge is much like caring for your natural teeth, with one extra step: cleaning underneath the false tooth, where food and plaque can gather. A normal toothbrush and floss can’t easily reach there, so we’ll show you how to use a floss threader, special superfloss with a stiffened end, or a small interdental brush to clean under and around the bridge properly.

Brush twice a day, clean between all your teeth daily, and keep up your regular check-ups and hygiene visits so we can keep an eye on the bridge and the teeth supporting it. Since those supporting teeth are what hold everything in place, protecting them from decay and gum problems is the best way to get years of service from your bridge. We’ll give you a simple routine to follow at your fitting.

No, having a bridge fitted shouldn’t be painful. Where the supporting teeth need preparing, we numb them first with local anaesthetic, so you stay comfortable throughout, and our Enjoyable Dentistry Technique™ helps keep you calm and relaxed, which matters if you tend to feel anxious.

A traditional bridge usually takes a couple of visits, with a temporary bridge in place while your permanent one is made. It’s normal for the prepared teeth to feel a little sensitive for a few days afterwards, which settles as they adjust.

After having a dental bridge fitted, it is common to experience some difficulty with eating initially. This is because the mouth needs time to adjust to the new prosthetic and the altered bite. Most patients are able to resume normal eating habits within a short period of time. It is important to start with soft foods and gradually introduce harder textures as the mouth becomes accustomed to the bridge. It may also be helpful to cut food into smaller pieces and chew on both sides of the mouth to distribute the pressure evenly.