What is a Dental Bridge?
A bridge spans a gap in a row of teeth and is one option to cover up the gap or missing tooth. A bridge is a number of crowns joined together. The smallest bridge is a 3-unit bridge which is made up of 3 crowns and covers the gap and one tooth either side of the gap.
The teeth either side of the gap have to be filed down and then once the bridge is made in the lab the 3 unit bridge is glued in place on top of the 2 teeth either side of the gap.
Dental bridges can be made from different materials. A basic bridge is normally made from porcelain fused to metal and this is what you would usually get on the NHS. A porcelain fused to metal bridge has a metal sub-base with a covering layer of porcelain. This material produces a very strong bridge but whilst perfectly adequate for side and rear teeth there are better looking options for front teeth. A more superior bridge might be made of zirconium and will look significantly better from an aesthetic point of view but this type of bridge is not normally available on the NHS.
Other options for covering up a gap or missing teeth are a partial denture or implants.
Whilst a bridge is an excellent way to replace a missing tooth(teeth), it must be forewarned that there are actually repercussions of having your teeth ground down. There is a risk of killing the nerves in the tooth and risk of decay at the margins of bridge if proper hygiene procedures are not followed.