Dental bridges are custom-made to match your natural teeth in color and overall appearance.  This is an option for filling the space created by a missing tooth. It is formed to look like the missing tooth, and it takes its place in the mouth. A tooth or teeth neighboring the missing tooth or teeth may be crowned, and used as anchoring teeth to support the replacement tooth.  The sides of a bridge use the two surrounding teeth for support, hence the name. A bridge replaces the missing tooth, both functionally and cosmetically.

It is important that a missing tooth be replaced as soon as possible for several reasons. If not treated the teeth surrounding the gap begin to shift inward, creating a whole chain reaction of bad things. Teeth use their neighbors for support, and, with one missing, they start to “fall.” As this worsens the bite changes in response to the pressure.  This can eventually result in problems with the entire jaw, which may lead to misaligned bite, TMJ and other problems. The surrounding teeth deteriorate and it is just a matter of time before them, too, are lost. Gum disease becomes a serious problem, with the difficulty of treatment increasing as the neglect continues.

Bridge work is as much an art as it is an exact science. Dental bridges are custom-made to match your natural teeth in color and overall appearance. The materials used may be gold alloys, porcelain bonded to metal alloy, or all ceramic material. The choice of material depends on requirements for strength, wear, and/or esthetics. With appropriate at home and professional care, your dental bridges may last for years.

Besides the aesthetic disadvantage of missing a tooth, if left untreated, structural changes to your mouth and jaw may occur, making it difficult to eat and speak properly.