Besides having dental implants, there are two main ways to replace missing teeth. The first is with a removable false tooth or teeth – a partial denture. The second is with a fixed bridge. A dental bridge is usually used where there are fewer teeth to replace, or when the missing teeth are only on one side of the mouth. Bridges are usually made of a metal base but can be made of white porcelain or zirconia. You should replace missing teeth for a number of reasons. Your appearance is one reason. Another is that the gap left by a missing tooth can mean greater strain is put on the teeth at either side. A gap can also mean your ‘bite’ is affected, because the teeth next to the space can lean into the gap and alter the way the upper and lower teeth bite together. This can then lead to food getting packed into the gap, which causes both decay and gum disease.
Bridges can be fixed using Adhesive techniques where metal wings are attached to the main pontic or artificial porcelain tooth. An adhesive bridge is non destructive. A bridge is prepared and ‘stuck’ to the inside of the adjacent teeth.
Reinforced fibres are used as bridges and the tooth is created on these fibres. For posterior teeth, these can be used if there are fillings needed in the adjacent teeth. Sometimes the most sensitive way to fill a gap is to utilise fillings that already exist in adjacent teeth. These fillings are removed and matching ‘wings’ attached to the bridge which fit into the spaces.