MediDental Care: A Dental Bridge

If you lose one or more of your natural teeth, one option for their replacement is a dental bridge which literally bridges the gap left behind by tooth loss. A bridge is a common, affordable, time-tested, and low-risk way to replace missing teeth and restore your smile and self-confidence with the help of MediDental Care.

The Procedure

Most dental bridges are straightforward and can be completed in just a few weeks. The procedure is as follows:

1. After your mouth has been anesthetized we begin by preparing your teeth to make room for the new bridge.
2. When your teeth have been prepared to our satisfaction an impression is taken of the prepared teeth that will be sent to a dental lab. A temporary bridge is then used to keep the teeth protected until your permanent bridge is placed.
3. When the impression arrives at the dental lab a model of your teeth is made and work begins to create your new bridge. We use the services of top lab technicians who will artistically recreate the look and feel of your natural teeth.
4. When you return for your final visit the bridge will be customized to your bite and cemented permanently in your mouth using the latest technology in dental cement with proper care. Your new bridge will increase your overall health and instill confidence for years to come.

Types of Dental Bridges

• Traditional Bridge - is held in place by abutment teeth on each side of the gap created by the missing tooth. These teeth are crowned and attached to the pontic/replacement tooth.
• Cantilever Bridge (one-sided) - is used when a patient only has natural teeth located on one side of the gap. The teeth on the other side may be missing completely or might not be healthy/strong enough to support a bridge.
• Maryland or Resin Bonded Bridges - can only be used in certain circumstances and are not suitable for replacing molars since they are subjected to strong chewing forces.
• Implant Bridges - are supported by dental implants that are surgically inserted into the jawbone. It is the ideal solution if you do not have the number or strength of teeth required to support a bridge.

Why do you need a dental bridge?

When you have a missing tooth or missing teeth, it can affect you in a number of ways. A dental bridge can address those changes, including:

• restoring your smile
• estoring the ability to properly chew
• restoring your speech and pronunciation
• maintaining the shape of your face
• re-adjusting your bite to properly distribute the force when you chew
• preventing your remaining teeth from moving out of the correct position