When a tooth is missing or extracted, a Dental Bridge may be used as a way to fill the gap to restore function and aesthetic appeal.
Depending on the specific requirements, the design and fabrication methods of the bridge may vary to ensure that they are a perfect fit.
A Dental Bridge may be 'removable' or 'fixed' restoration. In the case that the bridge is removable, the device may be removed at any time. In the event that the bridge is fixed, the device will be fastened permanently to the teeth (or implants) adjacent to (on either side of) the missing tooth.
A common rule observed in creating a dental bridge is that it needs to be equal or slightly smaller than the adjacent abutment teeth. Gold, metal fused to porcelain or even porcelain only can be used to form the bridge. They all have distinct qualities that make each more suitable depending on the situation.
Once the restoration is complete, recipients of dental bridges should ensure constant oral hygiene is observed especially under the new prosthesis. Proper diet should be given consideration as junk food consumption can lead to loss of more teeth. You should also note that while dental bridges are able to replace real teeth in many ways, special care should be taken to avoid unnecessary trauma to the replacement such as overly hard foods and opening bottle caps using teeth.