Fixed Tooth Bridges and dental bridgework can replace missing teeth or replace your Dentures with just a few teeth on them. This page discusses all Tooth-supported Bridges, Cosmetic Dental Bridges, tooth-coloured bridges,  metal free bridgework, Dental Implant supported Bridges, temporary bridges, splinted bridges, adhesive bridges such as Rochette, maryland, sandblasted and cantilever Bridges, Bridge repairs, fractured Bridges, use of mini Implants to support existing bridges, semi-fixed and flexible bridges, specialist attachments and adhesive bridgework too.


Do you need a fixed tooth bridge or even an Implant retained bridge?

If there has been tooth-loss, but there are still some strong teeth left close to any spaces, then bridgework could be a possible, fixed solution.
Placing a bridge after a tooth has been lost can prevent other knock-on problems that would affect your entire mouth. Teeth need each other for support. When one tooth is lost, the biting force changes on the teeth next to the space, and they can begin to shift ,tilt or drift. When a tooth no longer has anything to chew against, it can erupt and move out of the socket. You can eventually end up losing this tooth too!

As your bite changes, it gets harder and harder to chew your food. This can cause further damage to your jaw-joint, making function difficult. It is also much harder to clean teeth that have shifted. Harmful plaque and tartar accumulate in these new hard-to-reach places, which can result in cavities, gum disease, and permanent bone loss. Like 'road' bridges, a dental tooth bridge uses support 'abutments' (teeth or implants) for support either side of the Gap, to carry the missing tooth replacement and hold it in place.

Bridges are custom-crafted in a dental laboratory to precisely fit your teeth. There are many different type of Bridge designs and materials. This is an area that we Specialise in.

Want to see how we make a really advanced Bridge?

These pictures show a special "semi-fixed" attachment made of gold and palladium, with cosmetic porcelains then bonded on top to look "natural" in the mouth - this flexible attachment allows the bridge to accept larger forces without fracturing/damaging teeth, yet replaces the missing side tooth on the top jaw beautifully too, combining Function and Cosmetics optimally!

Without the above pictures, could you tell we had replaced the upper second from back tooth, with a fixed-in Bridge?

Bridgework does involve loosing the outside 1mm of a fully intact, unfilled tooth, to make room for the hollow hand-made Crowns that carry the "missing" tooth - whilst any natural tooth loss is not desirable and should be avoided or minimised, often though the teeth prepared are already heavily filled, fractured or worn down excessively, so bridgework can help repair, reinforce and improve the bite/looks of the supporting teeth, as well as replace a missing tooth by being "fixed-in" all the time. If this is the case for you, then a Bridge may be a good treatment solution that helps address several dental problems at once.

A missing tooth really changes a person's smile, but a bridge is one good way to get your smile back!

See the series of pictures below which show how we replaced an already well designed upper metal ring denture, with a much smaller and cosmetically superior mini-Bridge. Which would you prefer, considering the metal ring denture was already much less bulky than a standard plastic Denture design that would have covered all the palate and been thicker than metal too?

Bridgework is just one option to replace missing teeth, if such treatment is beneficial or desired, such as Implants, Precision Dentures and other types of Bridges too.

All options have advantages and disadvantages, as well as different costs and treatment times, see our "Bridge Alternatives" for more details.

Bridges though do depend on the other teeth being suitable to support and carry other missing teeth. We get many patients who are told their other teeth are simply not suitable for Bridgework and in some cases we find this too (but can look at Bridge alternatives as needed), but in other cases modern advances in knowledge and alternative designs MAY mean a Speciaslly designed Bridge could still be an option from SmileSpecialist^®!

For example, it used to be thought that if other teeth lost 50% of their bone support, under the gums, then they couldn't carry other teeth on bridgework (Ante's Law). However, as long as gum disease is treated and monitored regularly, the bite (occlusion) is carefully controlled/adjusted and advanced technical features are used, many more teeth can now be Bridged than origionally thought possible.

Of course, there are other options too, but only a thorough assessment and personal examination can determine what is (or isn't) possible for you!

The Importance of good Aftercare and Maintenance !

As well as regular check-ups to your Dentist to prevent problems (or at least catch them very early-on), please follow your aftercare advice and don't neglect your Toothbrushing and Flossing Techniques that reduce Dental Plaque attack on your teeth, gums and dentistry work.
Want to know more about brushing and Flossing techniques that prevents bad breath and keeps your Mouth and Dentistry Healthier too?

Then Click Here for Tooth Brushing Information or Dental flossing techniques or Preventing Gum Diseases links.

Click Here if you are Worried about the Possible Dental Dangers Abroad, to find out more....

Dr.Kilcoyne is a registered Accredited Specialist in Prosthodontics, which includes the Functional and Cosmetic Dentistry aspects for Teeth Reconstructions using Crowns, Veneers, Bridges, Implants, Ceramics, Precision Attachments, Dentures, Bonding etc.

Please feel free to check his GENUINE Specialist status at the official GDC website www.gdc-uk.org , by simply clicking their "Search our Register" link!

You can use the above website menu or just click-a-link here for Specialist or Advanced aspects of Cosmetic Dentistry, Tooth Veneers, Tooth Whitening, Dental Tooth Implants and smaller Mini-Implants, Dental Ceramic Crowns, Gum Diseases and Bad Breath, Root Canal treatments or Dental CPD Courses, are just some of the subjects you can learn more about here on our award winning dental website www.smilespecialist.co.uk.

To Access ALL this knowledge, experience and more, why not use the "Make Appointment" tab above ?