Q. Why should I replace missing teeth?
Q. What is an adhesive bridge?
Q. What are the advantages over traditional crown-retained bridges?
Q. What are the disadvantages of adhesive bridges?
Q. How long will the bridge last?
Q. Will the bridge feel normal?
Q. How much do they cost?
Q. Why should I replace missing teeth?
A. Your appearance is one reason. Another is that a gap left by a missing tooth can mean greater strain on the teeth either side. A gap can also mean that your ‘bite’ is affected, because the teeth next to the space can lean into the gap and alter the way the upper and lower teeth bite together. This can then lead to food getting packed into the gaps which causes both decay and gum disease.
Q. What is an adhesive bridge?
A. An adhesive bridge is a bridge which consists of a dummy tooth attached to a titanium wing. This wing glues onto the adjacent tooth.
Q. What are the advantages over traditional crown-retained bridges?
A. Only minimal preparation of the adjacent tooth is required. This is much healthier for the supporting tooth than removing a large amount of enamel and dentine in order to make a retaining crown. Adhesive bridges are also much less expensive than crown retained bridges.
Q. What are the disadvantages of adhesive bridges?
A. Adhesive bridges can only be stuck onto unfilled teeth or teeth with very small fillings. If a tooth is heavily filled then a crown retained bridge will be required. An adhesive bridge cannot be fitted where a large number of teeth are due to be replaced. Adhesive bridges do not last as long as crown retained bridges.
Q. How long will the bridge last?
A. On average the bridge will last around eight years. It will typically need re-cementing once during this period.
Q. Will the bridge feel normal?
A. The retaining wing will probably feel very ‘high’ for the first few days. After a week or two the teeth will move slightly so that your ‘bite’ feels normal again.
Q. How much do they cost?
A. It depends how many teeth are involved but the price for a bridge would typically be around £500-£600.