Dental bridges today can be fabricated from a combination of porcelain and metal, porcelain and other high-strength materials. Your dentist will take X-rays and impressions of the area requiring a bridge, as well as preoperative photographs, for use in planning the ideal bridge restoration for you. Depending upon the number of consecutive teeth you are missing, your bridge could be three or more units; two crowns that are cemented to the teeth on either side of the space (called abutments), plus one or more false teeth (called Pontics) to fill the space. Additional impressions will be taken after your dentist prepares the abutment teeth for the bridge.

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

During the first visit, the abutment teeth are prepared. Preparation involves re-contouring these teeth by removing a portion of enamel and dentin to allow room for a crown to be placed over them. Next, impressions of your teeth are made, which serve as a model from which the bridge, pontic, and crowns will be made by a dental laboratory. Your dentist will make a temporary bridge for you to wear to protect the exposed teeth while your bridge is being made.

During the second visit, your temporary bridge will be removed and the new permanent bridge will be checked and adjusted, as necessary, to achieve a proper fit. Multiple visits may be required to check the fit of the metal framework and bite. This is dependent on each individual’s case. If the dental bridge is a fixed (permanent) bridge, your dentist may temporarily cement it in place for a couple of weeks to make sure it is fitting properly. After a couple weeks, the bridge is permanently cemented into place.

• Experience the golden standard of artistic and technical excellence with Bay Street Dental Group, the Family Dentist in Melbourne offering Wisdom Tooth Removal to our neighbouring suburbs, Albert Park, South Melbourne, Middle Park & Docklands. Call (03) 9646 2577 or click here to email us today.