Services

What is a Dental Bridge?

Dental bridges are multiple dental crowns bonded together. Hence, a tooth bridge is a set of manufactured teeth joined together to replace a minimum of 2 teeth. They are an excellent solution in protecting existing damaged or heavily filled teeth while replacing several missing teeth. Dental bridges can be made from porcelain, ceramic, gold alloys, or a combination of materials. Traditionally, a bridge is made with a strong metal alloy base and porcelain bonded over the top to give it a natural tooth look. Nowadays, with the advancement of 3D scanning and milling technology, we are able to manufacture crowns that are pure ceramic.

When would I need a tooth bridge?

Tooth Bridges are usually recommended when one or more of the following happens:

• Missing one or several teeth.
• The missing tooth cannot be restored with a dental implant.
• The teeth adjacent to the empty space are cracked, decayed, weak, heavily filled, discoloured or have had a root canal.
• You want a fixed (not removable) solution to replace your missing teeth and do not want dentures.

What type of materials do you use for a dental bridge?

Dental bridges can be made out of the following in order of popularity:

• Monolithic Zirconia (Ceramic) – Zirconia has excellent compressive strength and wear ratings.
• Lithium Disilicate (Ceramic) – Also known as E.max (trade name), this ceramic materials is extremely popular due to it’s aesthetics and ability to be bonded onto teeth.
• Porcelain fused to Metal (PFM) – The traditional way to make crowns and bridges, with excellent long-term studies to prove its reliability.
• Porcelain fused to Zirconia (PFZ) – A fusion of the traditional way to bond porcelain using a new-age ceramic as the strong base.
• Gold and metal alloys – All metals have excellent compressive strength and wear ratings. These are the material of choice in heavy teeth grinders.
• If dental implants are involved, the connection material to the dental implant is usually made out of Zirconia or Titanium.

Teeth bridging procedure

The steps for a successful dental bridge are as follows:

• A full comprehensive oral examination is performed and all your teeth are checked for problems.
• All teeth problems such as cavities, infections, gum disease are all fixed prior to the bridging process.
• For a dental bridge that is connected to teeth:
  • The teeth connected to the dental bridge are prepared (adjusted) and moulds or 3D scans are taken and sent to our local dental lab.
  • Your new custom tooth bridge is either milled or constructed and sent back to us in roughly two weeks.
  • Your new dental bridge is bonded onto your teeth.
• For a dental bridge that is connected to dental implants:
  • The implants are 3D scanned or impressions are taken and sent to our local dental lab.
  • Your new custom implant bridge is either milled or constructed (or both!) and sent back to us in roughly three weeks.
  • Your new implant bridge is screwed onto your implants.

Alternative treatment options for Dental Bridging

It’s important to note that you do not always need a bridge. There are many other alternatives and the below are the most common:

• Dental Implants
• Dentures
• Leaving the space empty (no treatment)!

Possible complications

As with any dental treatment, some patients may experience complications. Nerve death and a subsequent need for a root canal occurs in roughly 10-20% of crown and bridge cases. This is mainly due to the fact that when teeth require dental bridging, it is already fairly broken down due to decay or cracks. Others may experience porcelain chipping or even porcelain fracture. In such cases, repair is not possible and replacement of the bridge may be required. The tooth is not immune to decay even with a bridge and hence it is recommended that it is checked and cleaned on a regular basis. Patients who grind their teeth still require a night splint to protect their dental bridge.

Interested in a Dental Bridge?

Contact us now on (03) 8899 6331 or check out our other services here.

Need help with your dental payments?

We have a variety of Payment Plans available – giving you the flexibility of paying for your tooth bridge later.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How much does a Dental Bridge cost?
  • The cost of bridging your teeth will greatly depend on the material and number of teeth you are bridging. A typical Maryland Bridge will cost the same as a tooth crown and a 3-unit bridge can cost up to 2-3x the cost of a dental crown.
• How long do tooth bridges last?
  • There are many variables for this. Generally, studies have shown crowns and bridges to last around 7–15 years.
• How do I clean my new Bridge?
  • The best way to clean a bridge is to brush it normally, then use super-floss to clean under the pontic. If super-floss is not available, we recommend the use of a water-flosser to remove debris.