Due to missing teeth, over time, the nearby teeth move into space. This leads to “bad bite” and gum disease. To supplement a gap, we use bridges. They offer a more permanent solution to gaps and missing teeth, unlike dentures.

The dentist fixes them to the gum, and unlike dentures, you cannot remove these bridges for cleaning. The dentist takes teeth on either side of the gap or missing tooth as anchors, and we normally refer to them as abutments. Then, we reduce the size of the abutments and cover them with a common crown, including a false tooth in between, to replace the gap. This false or replacement tooth is also known as a pontic. Then, the dentist bonds the entire crown to your natural teeth. This process helps with capping the abutments.

Bridges last for a lifetime. Once you get the treatment, don’t chew hard food or ice so that the newly placed bridges don’t fall out. By placing a bridge, one can smile confidently, chew and speak well, retain the shape of the face, and prevent other teeth from drifting.