A Bridge Over Troubled Gaps

A Bridge Over Troubled Gaps

When you’re missing a tooth or teeth, you have a few options to fill the gap: partial dentures, a fixed bridge, or dental implants.

The one option you don’t really have is to leave the gap in your smile. We covered that in August’s second blog, but leaving a gap in your smile has many downsides beyond simple cosmetic issues.

Dr. Egger feels dental implants are the best option for replacing a single tooth or two, but some patients prefer to have a bridge instead. It may seem that dental bridges are so 1950, but that’s not the case. Dental bridges provide an effective method for replacing a tooth or even a series of missing teeth.

A fixed bridge

Dr. Egger generally uses fixed bridges rather than removable bridges. Fixed bridges tend to be stronger and more durable.

A bridge, as the name implies, simply spans the gap of your missing teeth and is anchored on each side. Across the bridge are pontics (false teeth) in place of your actual missing teeth. In a fixed bridge, we use the teeth on both sides of the gap, called the abutments, as anchors. Dr. Egger removes portions of these teeth on all sides and the top, making room to place a crown on each. Porcelain crowns then are placed over those two teeth. These crowns are attached to the underlying metal framework, acrylic resin (to replicate gum tissue), and the artificial teeth. The finished bridge is a single piece and it is custom-made at a dental lab to fit impressions we take after we prepare the teeth for crowns. Bridges can be made of porcelain or ceramic.

How long does a bridge last?

The bridge and the crowns that hold it can last a lifetime if you practice good oral hygiene. If you do not, the teeth holding the bridge can become decayed and the bridge can become loose. Also, it helps if you pay attention to what you eat, to a degree. For instance, munching on really sticky caramels or very hard foods could cause your bridge to come loose or to break. The average lifespan for a bridge is 10-20 years.

If you have a missing tooth or teeth, Dr. Egger can fill the gap with a dental bridge. Call us at (989) 773-3560 to make an appointment.