Dental Bridges

Missing a tooth or several teeth? We are here to help.
Bridges are a simple, effective solution for restoring function to the mouth and improving the look of your smile.

What is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is a fixed prosthetic device — usually made of porcelain or ceramic — that is designed to replace a missing tooth or teeth. The bridge is fused to a metal base, resulting in a secure, durable, natural-looking replacement for missing teeth.

How Do Dental Bridges Work?

The procedure for a dental bridge is less invasive than dental implants and can typically be completed in two appointments. Dental bridge treatment varies based on the type of dental bridge you choose and the condition of your teeth. Generally, the steps for a dental bridge involve:

Consultation – At the initial consultation, your dentist will determine if you are a good candidate for a dental bridge, assess your teeth and gum health, take x-rays if needed, and decide which dental bridge type is right for you. Your dentist will take an exact model of your teeth and send it to a lab where a skilled technician will create a bridge that will offer a precise, comfortable, customised fit.
Treatment – At the second appointment, local anaesthesia is administered, adjacent teeth (known as abutment teeth) are prepared, and the dental bridge gets securely attached to the natural teeth on either side of the gap left behind by the missing tooth. The dental bridge is then cemented in place, leaving you with teeth that look and feel natural.

Advantages and Disadvantages

When Might a Dental Bridge Be Needed?

If you have a missing tooth or teeth and healthy teeth on either side of the gap, you may be able to restore health and function to your mouth with a dental bridge. You may benefit from a dental bridge if:

You have recently lost a tooth or teeth due to trauma, a medical condition, or tooth decay
You want a smile that looks healthy, radiant, and natural while also allowing you to speak clearly and eat your favourite foods
You want an effective way to replace a missing tooth and prevent jaw bone loss

What Are the Benefits of a Dental Bridge?

Dental bridges offer benefits such as:

Restoring function
Restoring appearance
Protecting your bite (if the gap left by a missing tooth is not filled, it can cause the surrounding teeth to lean into the gap over time and affect the way you bite or lead to decay)

Types of Dental Bridges

Traditional Fixed Bridges

Traditional fixed bridges are used to fill the gap between two healthy teeth. The adjacent teeth are reshaped and fitted with crowns that serve to support the dental bridge between them. This common bridge type is made from either ceramic or porcelain material fused to metal.

Cantilever Bridges

If you have a single tooth missing in the middle or front of your teeth, a cantilever bridge is a common option. Cantilever bridges involve placing a crown on one side of the healthy adjacent tooth to support the bridge. It is rare to use a cantilever bridge on the back teeth as the force from chewing can damage the bridge.

Maryland Bonded Bridges (Resin-Bonded Bridges)

A Maryland Bonded Bridge involves a floating tooth that serves to replace a missing tooth. Instead of completely covering the adjacent teeth, a Maryland Bonded Bridge is attached to existing teeth with metal framework. It involves less reshaping of adjacent teeth than traditional fixed dental bridges since no crowns are required.

Removable Bridges/ Partial Dentures

While most dental bridges are permanently fixed, some individuals may be better suited to a removable dental bridge. Removable dental bridges are customised with a plastic base that matches the gums and gets secured with metal clasps to nearby teeth. Removable bridges are more affordable than dental implants or crowns but do not offer the level of durability or security provided by fixed dental bridges.

Leave Us a Message

Our staff are more than happy to answer any questions or queries you may have.

FAQs

What Happens During a Dental Bridge Procedure?

After confirming you are a good candidate for a dental bridge during a consultation, your initial procedure will consist of preparing the teeth either side of the gap. This is done by removing a 1-2mm of the enamel of the tooth to make room for a crown to be placed over them.

A 3-D digital scan of the teeth is taken and sent to a local dental laboratory, where it is used to create a bridge that is custom-made for your mouth.

A temporary bridge is placed over the teeth while the permanent bridge is manufactured. At the next appointment, your dentist will replace your temporary bridge with the permanent dental bridge that gets cemented in place to the surrounding healthy teeth.

A dental bridge can also be anchored in place with a dental implant.

What Type of Care Does a Dental Bridge Require?

Consistent oral hygiene is crucial for maintaining your dental bridge. It is recommended to brush and floss at least twice a day and see your dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings.

How Long Does a Dental Bridge Last?

When cared for properly, dental bridges can last for many years. Typically, the lifespan of a bridge is 5 to 15 years.

What is the Difference Between a Crown and a Bridge?

A crown is a cap used to restore function to a tooth, protect a badly broken down tooth from further damage, or improve a tooth’s appearance.

A bridge, unlike a crown, uses existing teeth to help fill in a gap left by a missing tooth. A bridge utilizes a prosthetic tooth that is anchored in the gap between the two adjacent teeth to establish a natural-looking appearance.

Both procedures are straightforward, safe, affordable and offered by our practice. Call Chelmsford Dental today to book a consultation with one of our dentists.

Am I a Good Candidate for a Dental Bridge?

If you would like to learn more about dental bridges, please feel free to reach out to us. We would be happy to answer any questions or help you schedule a consultation.

Our Reviews!

Came to this practice about 6 or 7 years ago needing my wisdom teeth out and being in stupid amounts of pain due to a previous dentist leaving one of my wisdom tooth roots behind from an extraction – but being insanely anxious when it comes to dentistry due to several previous bad experiences all the way back to childhood I explained I was going to be a lot of work, not an issue to the team at all – even getting me a pillow to hug. (now upgraded to squishy animals which is adorable and amazing for the kiddos, me being a big one myself)I’m now being taken care of by Dr James with fixing my teeth and he’s been nothing short of amazing.His approach has been calm and very kind with each time ive gone in to the point where I’m now far less anxious going in – maybe even if I’m not getting too far ahead of myself here – might actually have conquered my fear of dentists.I can’t thank the Chelmsford team enough for their amazing work and always making myself and my mum feel welcomed each time we come in.I’ll be going nowhere else and highly reccomend to everyone I know when they ask about dental work.Thank you thank you thank you team! 💜

Sheri B

08:40 11 Nov 24

I attended the practice for the first time today and I was impressed by the friendliness, the excellent communication and the expertise of the dentist. I would have no hesitation in recommending this dental practice.

Denise Hewitt

14:21 01 Oct 24

Wonderful dental and administrative staff, very helpful in accomodating emergent dental issues.

Brittany Allison

04:49 20 Oct 23

I felt very at ease ,the staff were very polite . The actual lady dentist was so professional ,informative and caring .

Janette Mcdonald

21:25 13 Jun 23

Dr James Roberts is an outstanding dentist. Dealt with my issue with a minimum of fuss and offered great advice. Impeccable streamlined service. Highly recommended! Staff are terrific too.

Spiro Gougoulis

10:46 13 Apr 23

The dentist Vivienne made me feel very comfortable and all the staff were very lovely. She explained to me in detail and I felt really in the loop with what was going on! Thanks so much 🙂

Rosalie Heta

03:53 27 Feb 23

Great professional dentist and helpful staff

Rose Korcek

13:50 06 Jan 23

I used to hate visiting the dentist but i couldn’t hold it off any longer, after a quick search google search, i was shown Chelmsford dental and i’m shattered that i didn’t find them sooner!Dr James and everyone at Chelmsford Dental put the customer first!! They are super kind and friendly, They breakdown and explain everything in a simple and easy to understand manner that instills you with the confidence to go to the dentist!10/10 – 100/100 – 5 stars

Jackson Watson

09:27 09 Nov 22

Everyone is so lovely, they make you feel very welcome and at ease. I’d been searching for a new clinic and hadn’t had much luck until I found the team at Chelmsford earlier this year. I feel very confident in their care and will bring my little one for his future visits too!

J Baxter

04:56 08 Nov 22

I have no concerns what so ever about the quality of care or the expertise and skill of all the staff

Karen Corbett

14:09 23 Jun 22

Dr Viviane Nguyen and her assistant were so lovely and patient with what ended up being a longer and harder extraction than expected. The whole time they worried about my wellfare and if I was comfortable. I can not recommend them highly enough. Thank you

Stephanie Gadenne

04:53 09 Nov 21

I was really apprehensive going to the dentist having not been in a while but the staff were fantastic at making me feel relaxed about it all. They explain everything that I needed done and I felt much better when I left.

Nick Manifis

04:49 11 Oct 21

Like most people I visit the dentist begrudgingly and probably nowhere near as often as I should. But the whole team at Allied make it as good of an experience as humanly possible. Vivian is a very professional and empathetic doctor and the rest of the team work hard to make you as comfortable as possible.Highly recommended.

BJJ

13:12 14 Jan 20

Jonathan and Vivian are our family dentists and could not recommended them enough. Love all the staff!

chris lee

13:11 22 Dec 19

Great team, service and care provided 🙂 I used to get nervous going to the dentist but Jonathan has given me the confidence that I’ll be treated with care and always a smile.

Rachel

07:57 06 Nov 19

Wonderful service!!!

Tara Bozanich

10:45 16 Jul 19

Awesome and friendly staff (Kei & Lynn). Viviane Nguyen was very thorough with the treatment and I was very satisfied with the session at Allied Dental. Please keep up the good work!

WilliamH

09:42 25 May 19

My husband, Alistair Hutchison, went to Vivianne and was/is most impressed. He would highly recommend her. He doesnt have his own account and asked me to put it on mine!

Alistair Hutchison

23:38 13 Apr 19

Had a really great experience here at Allied Dental in Mount Lawley. I was anxious heading to a new dentist and I felt nothing but welcomed. Dr Viviane was delightful, friendly, very professional and thorougher. I walked away knowing exactly what needed to be done and how to go about it. Also the TVs on the roof are a bonus distraction! Thanks again Dr Viviane. Would recommend.

Kaitlyn Dayman

09:06 08 Mar 19

Great team at Allied Dental. Everyone is so passionate about the job and looking after their patients. I would highly recommend to come down and see them if you have any issues, I am sure you will be well looked after and treat with care and honesty. My whole family is treated by Dr Jonathan Ng, he always stays back if you need to see him urgently we fell like we are a family. Thank you for looking after us so well.

Ezequiel

01:32 07 Mar 19

Dr Jonathan (Dr J) has been the perfect choice for all my treatments, from braces to extraction. He is our go to person and we trust him and his expertise. He always came with solutions and options, even for difficult procedures. We cannot thank him enough for his patience and dedication towards his job. Highly recommend him to anyone looking for great service and good job done !!!

Tanoujah Gorayah

11:18 05 Dec 18

I went to see Dr Jonathan yesterday, although I have been to dentists more than twice a year in my whole life, I never had such a great experience. He explained everything thoroughly. definitely will be back and will recommend Dr J and his team to all my friends and family members. Thanks for your great service

Shirin Armaghan

02:46 16 Nov 18

Outstanding dentist and service! I also have 2 young children and they now love going to the dentist because of Dr Jonathan and his team. Thank you. I can’t recommend your service enough!

Mark O’Hare

11:27 13 Nov 18

It was my first time at Allied Dental last week and I had a great experience thanks to Dr Jonathan! He is so thorough in explaining everything and I felt at ease after my appointment. Highly recommend and I will be back!

georgia farrell

03:47 09 Nov 18

I can’t speak highly enough of Dr Jonathan Ng and the team at Allied Dental. “Dr J” has been looking after my son with great care since he was 1 year old. Many of my friends and colleagues have been seeing Dr J as well and they have only great things to say. Highly recommended!

Cameron Rule

09:55 07 Nov 18

Great service, everything went smoothly and was taken care so well. Especially dr Jonathan:) thank you so much.

Yangchen Tshogyal

05:44 22 May 18

Dr. Ng at Allied Dental Centre is simply the best. His attention to detail, skill and gentleness have resulted in my smile improving 100%. I strongly recommend you see Dr. Ng because you have only one smile, only one life to live, and you owe it to yourself and those you love to be as confident in expressing yourself as possible. I needed a new front tooth and for the first time I am completely confident with my smile! Having a great smile will change your life.

Kathleen Grassi

05:17 17 Nov 17

I am so happy visiting this Dental Centre. Dr Peter Sim is most helpful, competent and so willing to explain everything to me, I really appreciate it. We are working through my needs for some cosmetic work and I am just delighted with our plans. I await the final result!

Wendy Turner

02:01 10 Nov 17

Dr Jonathan and the team at Allied Dental My Lawley are amazing! I had spoken to a few dentists about my teeth and none had recommended Invisalign. I used this product with the guidance of Dr J for 7 mths and now my teeth are great!! Im so happy with the result. Thank you!

Caroline Glass

04:44 13 Jun 17

Huge thanks to Jonathan at Allied Dental, I avoid dentists as much as possible, thankfully Jonathan is very patient, professional and a great educator. I left feeling I have a not only been listened to but I also have a plan to ensure I get the best preventative care when it comes to Dental Health. Recommend these guys highly!

Ross Field

01:06 04 Jul 16

Very gentle, professional and pleasant dental practice. Been to a few dentists in the past years and this is by far the best experience I had so far. Impressive

Dom B.

14:34 16 May 16

Exceptional professional knowledge and attention to detail. Highly recommended.

Jean Needle

12:44 09 Jul 15