Tooth loss is nothing to be concerned about, it is common in adults. And it can happen for many different reasons:

• Illness
• Injury
• Addiction or drug abuse
• Accidents
• Improper oral care
• Infection

Traditionally, after a person has lost a tooth or a few teeth, the most common prosthetic option that he can receive is a removable denture. A partial removable denture can provide unilateral or bilateral coverage and replacement for your lost tooth or teeth but since they are not fixed, they are not so comfortable and they are inferior in function. Porcelain dental bridges can be prescribed, in lieu of removable dentures, when a patient has gaps between teeth.

Whatever the reason for tooth loss, your dentist is able to fill the space in your smile. This has many benefits:

• Increased confidence
• Improved oral health
• Prevents tooth shifting and orthodontic problems
• Improved quality of life
• Maintain the shape of your jaw and face
• Ability to speak, eat and smile “like normal”

In dental bridges, the crowns are being supported by the remaining teeth. Like porcelain crowns, the bridge is fabricated by reducing the surface of the teeth with a drilling bur so that it can support the bridgework. An impression is taken, so that a dental cast or mould can be fabricated and then sent to the dental laboratory. The finished product, the dental bridge, will arrive from the laboratory and then it is installed on a patient by permanent cement. They are best for short-span edentulous, or when there is unilateral involvement; but it can also be prescribed for bilateral loss of teeth, in which almost all of the remaining teeth will be utilized to support the teeth.

Dental bridges are an excellent option when you and your dentist are discussing treatments for your missing tooth/teeth.

Don’t let missing teeth and gaps in your smile hold you back, there are many things that you can do to rectify the situation. Learn about how dental bridges can benefit you.

Dental bridges are one option you can explore when you are wondering about which restorative dental treatment is right for you. Your procedure will depend on your specific circumstances.

Dental bridges are permanent, prosthetic sets of teeth that can be installed in your mouth. They will give you a fully functional bite that allows you to eat, drink, smile and talk like you normally would.

They are color matched specifically to your teeth, and fitted perfectly to your bite and smile. They look and feel like real teeth and they do not have to be removed like dentures.

Bridges are attached permanently to your surrounding teeth. They are used to “bridge” the gap between teeth, if one, or several have gone missing.

A dental bridge contains two crown-like structures, and dental implants in between the crowns. Your neighbouring teeth are filed down and fitted to size with the bridges.

They act as two anchors that allow the tooth in the middle (the missing space that will be filled) to sit comfortably and permanently within your gums, held in place by the neighbouring anchor teeth.

Porcelain is the most common material used for the fabrication of crowns and bridges. Porcelain is a tooth-colored material and it can be matched to the shade of the remaining teeth, but there are also other materials utilized in the dental laboratory. Ceramic crowns (which are highly aesthetic but less durable compared to porcelain) or metal crowns (either stainless steel or gold, which are least superior in terms of providing aesthetics but definitely more reliable, where longevity is concerned) are also good choices for materials; to find out what kind of restoration is best for your need, you will need to visit The Hendon Smile and book an appointment, today.