Dental Bridge Treatment to Close the Gaps in Your Smile

Missing teeth or gaps in your smile can be a huge cause of insecurity for many people. Are you self-conscious about your smile? If you don’t like your smile, Hove Dental can fix it with professional treatments. A dental bridge replaces one or more missing teeth so that you can smile with confidence.

What is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is a structure that contains one or more false teeth. These teeth can be used to fill gaps in your mouth that have been caused by having teeth removed or losing teeth due to injury or decay. The purpose of a dental bridge is both cosmetic, restoring a person’s confidence in their appearance, and practical, enabling a person the ability to eat, speak, and close their mouths without discomfort.

Dental Bridge Cost in the UK

The cost of having a dental bridge fitted will vary, depending on where you opt to have treatment. At Hove Dental, all of our treatments are carried out to the full satisfaction of our patients and we believe that our prices reflect our high level of service.

The results of our bridges are so natural that you might even forget which teeth are yours and which aren’t real. How much is a dental bridge? The cost to have treatment carried out by us is £685 per unit. For a full list of the treatments we offer and their respective prices, check out our price list.

Types of Dental Bridge

Traditional: traditional dental bridges consist of a false tooth or a number of false teeth held in place by dental crowns. This is the most popular style of dental bridge and is the perfect solution for filling gaps in natural teeth.

Maryland: the Maryland dental bridge is similar to the traditional bridge. While the more traditional option uses dental crowns on the abutment teeth, a Maryland dental crown uses a metal or porcelain framework that is bonded onto the abutment teeth. Just like the traditional dental bridge, the Maryland bridge can only be used when you have a natural tooth on either side of the gap.

Cantilever: the cantilever dental bridge is held in place by a dental crown. To have a cantilever bridge, you only need one natural tooth next to the missing tooth gap.

Dental Bridge vs Dental Implant

What’s the difference between a bridge and a dental implant? Well, a dental bridge may need to be replaced every 5 to 15 years, depending on how well you look after it, while dental implants are considered a permanent solution. Bridges are not made to last forever, but they are a popular choice for many people as they don’t require surgery like dental implants do.

If you’re not sure whether you should have a dental bridge or a dental implant fitted, book a consultation with us today and we can advise you based on your specific requirements.

How Long Does a Dental Bridge Last

With the proper care and regular brushing and flossing, a dental bridge can last for up to 20 years. We often get asked how long they last and the answer is always the same; up to 20 years. To ensure yours lasts for as long as possible, we ensure you know how to properly maintain your oral health by brushing and flossing properly twice a day. Proper tooth care is essential for maintaining the lifetime of your dental bridge.

Are Dental Bridges Removable?

Dental bridges can be made removable so that you can take them out of your mouth when you want to. However, having a removable bridge depends on the number of teeth and the position of any remaining teeth in your mouth that are able to support the bridge.

Many people find that having a removable dental bridge is useful because it restores mouth functionality and aesthetics when needed. So, if this is something you are interested in, book a consultation today to discuss it with one of our dentists.

What is a Temporary Dental Bridge?

A temporary bridge is worn to protect your gums and teeth while you are waiting for your proper dental bridge to be finished. Having a temporary option is a fantastic solution that can be worn in the meantime, filling the gaps in your teeth and ensuring that your adjacent teeth don’t move out of position before we can place the final device in place.

Having a temporary dental bridge fitted is not painful and does not require any anesthesia. However, after it is fitted you may feel some mild tenderness in your gums for a few days afterwards. However, in most cases, simple painkillers such as ibuprofen can easily treat any discomfort.

Why You Might Need a Dental Bridge

When you have missing teeth, the subsequent gaps in your mouth can affect your confidence and comfort, among other things. Having a dental bridge fitted can make a person feel more comfortable with their smile, helping to restore confidence and quality of life. The most common reasons people need a dental bridge is if:

  • An accident or injury damaged a tooth beyond repair
  • A tooth is so decayed that it falls out
  • A tooth has been removed a dentist
  • Decay or infection has made its way deep within a tooth.

You can have a dental bridge fitted anywhere in your mouth. Having a fitting for front teeth is a particular relief for people struggling with visible gaps in their teeth. So, whatever the cause of the gaps in your teeth, a dental bridge is a great solution.

The Process of Getting a Dental Bridge Explained

If you are getting a dental bridge fitted, it’s likely you want to know what to expect. During your first visit to us, your abutment teeth are prepared. This preparation involves removing a portion of enamel to allow for a crown to be placed over the top of them. After this, impressions are made. These impressions serve as a model from which the bridge can be made. While waiting for it to be ready, we can provide you with a temporary dental bridge in the meantime.

During your second visit to our clinic, we will fit you with your brand new dental bridge. During the fitting, we will check and make any adjustments in order to achieve the perfect fit. You will then be required to attend multiple visits to check that the fit of your dental crown is accurate. After a couple of weeks spent adjusting to your new dental bridge, it will then be cemented into place.

How to Care for a Dental Bridge

In order to ensure your dental bridge lasts as long as possible, it is important to keep good oral health practices. Brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing regularly, and using an antiseptic mouthwash every day will help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Just like your natural teeth, bridges need to be brushed and flossed every day.

At Hove Dental, we will also show you how to use a floss threader to floss under and around your dental bridge so that it is kept clear of food. If you want to learn about proper tooth brushing techniques, just ask us and we can advise you. It is important that you know how to take care of your bridge properly so that it lasts for many years to come.

What are the Benefits of Dental Bridges?

Dental bridges offer a permanent solution if you have any missing teeth as, unlike implants, they can fill the gaps in your mouth without the need for surgery. And with porcelain tooth finishes available, your new tooth will be indistinguishable from your natural teeth.

  • Restore your smile
  • Maintain the shape of your face
  • Restore the ability to properly chew
  • Distribute the forces in your bite properly by replacing missing teeth
  • Prevent your remaining teeth from drifting out of position.
  • Restoring your speech and pronunciation

Having a dental bridge fitted is one of the best ways to invest in your confidence, improve your quality of life, and maintain your oral health.

Call us to Book Your First Consultation Today

Having decaying or missing teeth can have a significant effect on your appearance and comfort. Having a dental bridge fitted can be transformative, restoring your confidence, bite, and smile. Booking with us will ensure you receive the very best treatment. And if you’re nervous about visiting the dentist, we have a team of friendly experts who have a lot of experience supporting nervous patients, so just let us know if you’re worried about anything and we will support you in any way that we can. Call us today to find out more.