Bridges

Dental bridges are used to restore a gap created by one or more missing teeth; literally bridging the gap. Many types of bridge exist; in essence they are all fixed and can only be removed by a dentist.

Traditionally, bridges have relied on natural teeth to support them, however, with advances in science and technology Elegant Smiles can now offer implant supported dental bridges, with the advantage of spanning larger gaps. Traditional dental bridge treatments involve preparation of the supporting teeth to receive a crown; the gap is closed upon cementation of the final bridge with a lifelike ceramic pontic.

What are Dental Bridges?

A dental bridge is a custom-made precision item that is cemented over your tooth or implant to completely cover it and restore an adjacent gap. Traditionally, dental bridges have been described as ceramic fused to metal. Dental bridges of this nature are most frequently used. However, advancing technology has provided materials based on Zirconium, which has eliminated the need for a metal substructure for your bridge. All-ceramic bridges are now the gold standard in providing the ultimate aesthetic result.

Resin bonded dental bridges are the quickest, most conservative and most cost-effective solution in restoring that gap in your smile. They rely on a good quality and quantity of tooth substance to be present. A metal wing is bonded to an adjacent sound tooth and this carries an aesthetic, custom-made ceramic tooth to bridge the gap in your smile.

Why are Dental Bridge Treatments used?

Elegant Smile’s dental bridges address both aesthetic and functional needs. Gaps at the front of your mouth provide a poor cosmetic appearance and affect speech and eating. Missing teeth further back in your mouth may cause significant limits to your diet. These reduce the pleasure and enjoyment associated with food and social occasions. Unstable, unsightly or loose dentures have the potential to be replaced with a fixed bridge. Bridging that gap will provide you with a life changing experience and the confidence to smile at all times.

One of our dentists will take you through the initial consultation, assessment and planning stages. The options appropriate to your case will be thoroughly discussed with you. Preoperative pictures will be taken and your tooth shade will be recorded and then the process is initiated. Impressions may be taken to allow our ceramist to provide a diagnostic wax up which will physically allow you to visualize and approve the intended outcome.

Maryland, Implant Retained and Conventional Dental Bridge Treatments

Resin Bonded Dental Bridges (Maryland Bridges)

These require little to no preparation of your tooth so there is no need for a local anesthetic. An impression will be taken of the tooth and sent to our ceramist, along with your smile design and custom prescription. The Elegant Smiles ceramist would then follow your custom prescription to hand craft your bridge. This is then trial fitted and, after approval, cemented in. Resin bonded bridges are cheaper than conventional bridges and involve less tooth preparations, but they do not last as long as the latter.

Implant Retained Dental Bridges

Implant retained bridges are the closest man-made item to replace natural teeth. Many combinations of implant supported bridge are possible. Initial consultation, assessment and planning will occur with one of our dentists. The options appropriate to your case will be thoroughly discussed with you.

Conventional Dental Bridges

IPS e.max®

Ivoclar Vivadent’s patented lithium disilicate material is truly a revolution for the dental industry. Never before has a material been able to combine high strength, high aesthetics and ease of use into one product, until now. IPS e.max® is a lithium disilicate glass ceramic that has optimized translucency, durability and strength for full anatomical restorations. Due to the use of new technologies and optimized processing parameters, IPS e.max® lithium disilicate has evolved beyond previously available lithium disilicate ceramics. Indeed, compared to other glass-ceramics, IPS e.max® demonstrates a strength that is 2.5 to 3 times higher. IPS e.max® lithium disilicate restorations exhibit superior durability, featuring 360-400 MPa of flexural strength. When fabricated to full contour, the monolithic structure is the most robust ceramic system tested to date. The opalescence, translucency and light diffusion properties of IPS e.max® lithium disilicate were all designed to replicate the natural tooth structure for beauty and undetectable restorations.

Zirconia

Zirconia is the strongest crown material on the market today. The Zirconia material typically used by most manufacturers is atetragonal polycrystalline zirconia, partially stabilized with yttrium oxide. Zirconia materials typically have strengths of over 900 MPa.

Porcelain Bonded to Metal

White porcelain bonded to a metal sub-structure. The metal gives strength whilst the porcelain gives the white colour. They are not as natural looking as e.max® and Gradia crowns. The metal substructure may be non – precious or precious metal depending on the patient’s choice.

Precious metal is generally preferable as it is more biocompatible with the gums and so leads to less inflammation and is less prone to corrosion. The weak point here is the bond between the porcelain and metal and, over time, the porcelain breaks off the metal. Also, as gums recede with age, a black line may be seen above the crown and this leads to an unsightly smile. This blackness is the metal in the crown. This does not occur with all porcelain/ceramic crowns.

Recall and Review

It may take a couple of days for you to become accustomed to your new bridge. You will be invited to return a few weeks after your dental bridge fitting to review your oral health status, condition of bridge and feedback of the cosmetic result of the dental bridge treatment. It is important to employ a strict oral hygiene regime encompassing professional hygiene intervention, as a bridge will not protect natural teeth from decay or gum disease. You will be shown the most appropriate method to ensure optimal oral health. As with any treatment, regular recall and review is essential to ensure the optimal status of your bridge.

It is generally accepted that between 1 in 5 and 1 in 8 teeth crowned go on to become non-vital and require a root canal treatment at some stage and this can sometimes be many years after the initial crown.