If you have missing teeth, your dentist can close — or bridge — the gaps in your smile with dental bridges. A dental bridge is a false tooth (called a pontic) that is held in place by the abutment teeth on either side of the gap. Although pontics can be made from a variety of materials such as gold, typically they’re made from porcelain to aesthetically blend in with your natural teeth.
How a fixed bridge is placedA fixed bridge means that your dentist uses existing natural teeth on both sides of your missing tooth (or teeth) to help hold your bridge in place. Placing a bridge usually takes more than one dental visit.
- On the first visit, your dentist prepares the teeth on both sides of the gap. The bridge will attach to those teeth.
- Your dentist then makes an impression or an image of your teeth and the space. That information is sent to a dental laboratory where lab technicians follow your dentist’s instructions and make the bridge.
- Your dentist will place a temporary bridge to protect your prepared teeth while you are waiting for the permanent bridge.
- When the permanent bridge is ready, your dentist fits, adjusts and cements the bridge to the prepared teeth. This type of bridge is permanent and cannot be taken out of your mouth without a dentist’s help.
Dental implants may be used to support a bridge. Implants are posts that are surgically placed into the jaw. Bone will hold the implants in place.
- A key benefit of implants is that they don’t need support from the surrounding teeth.
- Candidates for dental implants should be in good general health and have enough bone to support an implant. For some people, implants can help preserve the jawbone where teeth have been lost.
- Implants may be placed in one day or might require multiple visits depending on your dentist’s treatment plan.