Fixed bridge over the missing tooth:
What is it?
A bridge allows replacing in a long lasting way one missing tooth or more missing teeth. It has three elements:
- a “pontic” tooth that replaces the missing tooth/teeth
- The two adjacent teeth called abutments over which the pontic tooth rests.
- The abutments are filed a little to fix the whole setting with dental cement in a stable way.
Steps of the procedure:
First visit to the dentist:To fix the bridge permanently in a long lasting way the dentist will file some millimeters of the enamel around the abutment teeth. Then, he/she makes the moulds of your teeth that will be used to elaborate the bridge. He/she places a temporary bridge that will protect your teeth and your gum until your next appointment.
Second visit to the dentist:
The dentist will remove the temporary bridge. Then, using dental cement, he/she will adjust and fix the permanent bridge in a long lasting way.
Recommendations:
The bridge is recommended when the adjacent teeth to the missing tooth have been through an important restoration process or a root canal therapy.
Previous dental tests:
Panoramic radiographies, pictures and moulds that the dentist will take at his/her office.
Benefits:
- It ensures the replacement of the missing tooth in a stable and permanent way.
- It is aesthetic and has the appearance of living teeth.
- It allows ensuring the reparation of the adjacent teeth when they are altered.
- It restitutes the comfort of mastication and improves elocution.
- It lasts a long time, from 5 to 20 years, which depends on the oral hygiene, on patient’s oral habits (gnashing of the teeth, biting nails… etc.) and on the material used for elaborating the bridge.
Points to consider:
- To make your choice and make a decision: it is easier to clean an implant than a bridge. And, it is easier to clean a fixed bridge than a removable partial prosthesis.
- The restoration of abutment teeth is necessary in order to fix the fixed bridge in a lasting way. In the cases where the abutment teeth are healthy, the dentist will recommend placing an implant instead of a bridge.
Care:
- Brush your teeth after each meal. Use dental floss once a day and even more carefully around the pontic tooth.
- Verify the care of your abutment teeth by a dental examination. The ideal would be an examination twice a year.
Cost of a fixed bridge on 3 teeth:
390 euros.
