Bridges & dentures
Dentures are used when all the teeth at the top and/or bottom of your mouth are missing, or when you have several teeth missing from different areas of the mouth.
Single tooth dentures can also provide an excellent and less expensive alternative to implants.
A bridge is a false tooth held in place by the tooth or teeth next to it. Often two neighbouring teeth will need crowns fixed onto them. The two crowns are then joined together by placing the false tooth in between them and then cementing them in place.
Creating a fixed bridge is usually a good option if the ajoining teeth are strong enough to support the extra tooth or if they are already crowned or filled.
Sometimes sticky bridges can be fitted, these are not destructive to the adjacent teeth because of the latest bonding techniques used to hold the false tooth in place.
Modern materials and techniques mean both bridges and dentures look and feel far more realistic than they used to.
Dental implants can also be used to hold dentures firmly in place, enabling you to eat whatever you like and to smile and talk with confidence.
This page was last updated on 10 of February 2011
