Bridges This information was prepared by the British Dental Health Foundation which it hopes you will find of value as a basis to help discussion with your dentist. Further information is also available direct from the Foundation. Please send your question, together with a stamped addressed envelope to : British Dental Foundation, Eastlands Court, St.Peter's Road, Rugby CV21 3QP Q What is a bridge? A bridge is a fixed (non removable) prosthesis made to fill the gap left by missing teeth. Q Is there an alternative to a partial denture? As mentioned previously, it is possible in some cases to have a fixed 'prosthesis', usually called a bridge. A bridge consists of false teeth filling the gap and fixed to existing teeth. This is stuck firmly in place and is not removable by the patient. What usually happens is that adjacent teeth are cut down and prepared for crowns. Onto these crowns are fixed the false teeth and the whole unit is then stuck in place (see diagram). Q Can I always have a bridge if teeth are missing? No. There have to be enough strong teeth in the mouth to support the false teeth. It is up to your dentist to decide whether a bridge is possible or advisable in any particular case. Q What are bridges made of? Bridges usually have a metal base, normally gold, but other metals are beginning to become available. Depending on the position of the remaining teeth in the mouth, the metal may be covered with porcelain (which is preferable) or plastic, to match your existing teeth. Q Are bridges expensive? To make a bridge requires a considerable amount of time and skill on the part of dentist and technician. The materials are relatively expensive so costs tend to be fairly high. Whilst a metal denture is more expensive than a plastic denture, a comparable bridge is more expensive than either. Q How do I look after my bridge? The bridge should be cleaned as thoroughly as your own natural teeth and your dentist may advise you in the use of dental floss or superfloss to clean under the bridge. Q Are there any other methods of fixing false teeth? In certain cases it is possible to use a technique falling between a bridge and a partial denture. The clips which are used to secure a partial denture might be unsightly and may not provide enough support. Special precision retainer may overcome the problem. These precision retainers are usually in two parts - one part is attached to the denture and the other is fixed to a crown. The two parts of the precision retainer then clip together and hold the denture in the mouth. The denture can be removed by the patient when necessary. More than one precision retainer may be needed for a denture and the combination of crown, precision retainer and denture is expensive. However, it may be the best alternative way to replace missing teeth, especially if a large number of teeth have been lost. Q Can I have teeth screwed in? Now the answer to this question is yes. This procedure is called an implant. Simplified - hollow titanium cores are screwed into the bone and used as supports for crowns and bridges. This procedure may take up to 6 months from begining to end and can be quite expensive. As a rough guide it costs about £1800 per implant and crown. The size of the gap determines the number of implants required. Remember, it is as important to meticulously clean and care for your replaced missing teeth as it is to care for your remaining natural teeth.