Bridges.

Sometimes permanent teeth need to be replaced. Teeth can be lost through dental decay, knocked out in accidents or, in some rare cases, never grow in the first place.

When this occurs a cosmetic process is used to fill in the blank space with one or more teeth. The dentist will create what is known as a bridge. Just as the name implies, it entails creating an appliance that will place a tooth precisely where it needs to be. This is considered a cosmetic process even though sometimes the bridge is more functional, for instance in the molar area. The bridge also helps maintain the integrity of the bones.

There are three types of bridges that your dentist might use depending on your circumstances. They come in porcelain, alloys or a combination of both.

Fixed partial bridge. This appliance is used to fill the gap created by a missing tooth or teeth, is considered permanent and bonds directly to the surrounding teeth for support.

Removable bridge. This bridge is the same as the fixed partial bridge with the exception that you can remove it.

Implant bridge. Implants are the most recent choice in the family of bridges. Implant bridges are permanently affixed to the jaw. Simplistically, a hole is drilled into the jaw below the gum line where a prosthetic tooth is embedded directly into the bone. The gums will then grow back around the root of the artificial tooth and voila out pops a brand new smile.

Even thought they are expensive, many people have voiced their approval of the procedure. This is especially true of more mature patients who may suffer from long term, ill fitting dentures.

The implant bridge is the closest to natural teeth that a patient can ask for. They are a far cry from the wooden dentures worn by George Washington in 1776!