At Tandliv, we have many years of experience with bridge treatments, and we always focus on your safety, trust and dental health. Therefore, you can visit our clinics for an assessment of your need for bridge treatment.
What is a dental bridge?
If you have lost one or more teeth, they can be replaced by bridge treatment.
The drill attaches to the neighboring teeth, forming a bridge that covers the gap in the tooth row.
The dental bridge consists of:
- An artificial tooth to replace the missing or damaged tooth
- Two dental crowns on the two neighboring teeth that hold the artificial tooth in place in the mouth.
- Crowns can be made of gold or tooth-colored porcelain, which gives a very natural and aesthetically pleasing result.
Dental bridges are a form of tooth replacement that feels and functions like a part of your own teeth, as it is fixed and cannot be removed.
How does a dental bridge work?
The teeth that will be used as bridge abutments are usually fitted with a dental crown.
Crowns can be made of gold or tooth-colored porcelain. In order to fit the crowns, the teeth that will be used as bridge abutments must be ground down. The pontics - the missing tooth or teeth - can be made of either porcelain or gold.
With tooth-colored crowns, you can achieve a very lifelike and aesthetically pleasing result. The illustration shows the replacement of 1 missing tooth with a bridge.
The two teeth used as bridge abutments are brazed to crowns. The crowns of the bridge abutments are soldered together with the pontic that replaces the missing tooth.
The example shown is a three-section bridge, as there are two bridge piers and an intermediate link.
When do I need a bridge?
A bridge treatment is often the most optimal solution if you are missing one or more teeth. However, it is a prerequisite that the surrounding teeth are healthy as they will hold the bridge in place in your mouth.
A dental bridge is beneficial for both cosmetic and functional reasons. For example, it helps to stabilize the teeth throughout the mouth so they don't shift. In other words, a bridge treatment helps prevent a general deterioration of your bite.
The benefits of the treatment include the following:
Cosmetic benefits
- You can enjoy being able to show the world a beautiful smile - without gaps in your teeth.
- You'll have more harmonious facial features - missing teeth affect the shape of your face.
Health benefits
- You get a better bite - when you're missing a tooth, neighboring teeth will try to fill the gap, changing your bite function.
- You lower the risk of tooth decay, gingivitis and periodontal disease - food sticks and builds up in the gap left by a missing tooth.
Other benefits
- Clearer speech - one or more missing teeth can affect articulation, making your speech unclear and slurred.
How does the treatment work?
A dental bridge treatment at Tandliv always starts with an initial consultation. Here we go through the process and discuss the pros, cons and possible alternatives so you have a full overview of the treatment.
During the consultation, we will also examine your teeth to ensure that the neighboring teeth are healthy enough to cement the dental crowns that will hold the bridge in place in your mouth. Last but not least, we will give you a price for the dental bridge and treatment.
First consultation
Once we have assessed with you whether a dental bridge is the optimal solution, we start the actual treatment.
First, we numb the treatment area with a mild anesthetic to ensure you don't experience any discomfort, pain or discomfort. We then prepare and grind down the neighboring teeth to make room for the crowns.
Afterwards, we take an impression of the prepared teeth. We send the impression to a dental technician who makes the actual dental bridge. In the meantime, we fit a temporary bridge in your mouth.
Second consultation
Once we have received the impression from the dental technician, you will visit us in the clinic again. Here we remove the temporary bridge and cement the custom-made one. We also adjust the bite and fit.
Multiple visits may be required to adjust and check bite and fit.
Possible treatment complications - does it hurt to have a dental bridge made?
We will always use a local anesthetic and the treatment itself is therefore painless. However, after the treatment, there may be a small risk that the sanded areas may be sensitive to cold and heat in the following months. This can, of course, be uncomfortable - but is completely harmless.
In rare cases, the tooth nerve can be damaged and persistent pain can occur. However, these can usually be treated with a root canal treatment.
Pain-free and quality-conscious treatment at Tandliv
At Tandliv, you will always be greeted by dentists who focus on professional pride and, not least, your dental health. That's why we always use the latest materials and methods. We also strive to be a pain-free dentist, always taking into account the individual patient's needs and sensitivity to pain.
This means you are always guaranteed quality treatment, low risk of complications and pain-free treatment when you have a dental bridge made in our clinic.
Dental bridge prices - what does a bridge cost?
The cost of treatment depends on the size and strength of the bridge. The longer the bridge needs to be and the more teeth it needs to be attached to in order to withstand daily pressure, the more expensive the treatment will be.
The price also varies depending on the crowns you want, and the price also depends on whether the dental bridge is made by a foreign or Danish dental technician.
If you are a member of Sygeforsikringen "danmark", part of the cost of the treatment will be covered.
How long does a bridge last?
Bridge durability depends on several factors - including your personal dental care and any habits that may affect your dental health.
For example, bruxism (teeth grinding) and poor oral hygiene can shorten the life of a dental bridge. Therefore, regular preventive dental care will help extend the life of the bridge.
75% of bridges will still function after 15 years. But this requires you to take care of your overall dental health. You should also regularly check for fractures and cracks in the crown.
We can usually repair or smooth out any damage to the crown - but in very rare cases, a new dental bridge may be needed after a fracture.
During treatment at the clinic, we will of course always advise you on how to take care of your dental bridges yourself.
Always be aware:
- The more teeth you have to chew with, the less strain on them and the bridge
- Keeping crowns clean so that plaque cannot build up along the gum line and cause gingivitis, leading to periodontal disease and loose teeth
- Keeping the middleman clean (if it's possible to get in)
Use interdental brushes/"bottle cleaners" as shown in the image below or special floss if necessary. a
Oral hygiene and bridgework
Good oral hygiene is always important to avoid oral diseases. If you have a dental bridge, effective oral hygiene is also crucial for the durability of the bridge.
Even though the bridge posts are crowned, they need to be kept clean so that plaque cannot accumulate along the gum line and cause gingivitis. Gingivitis can lead to periodontal disease and loosening of the bridge posts.
If it's possible to get under the interdental space, you should also remember to keep it clean. This can be done with small "bottle cleaners" - so-called interdental brushes - or with special dental floss.
Interdental brushes can keep clean under the bridge pontics.
Of course, the dentist will explain and show you how best to keep your teeth clean with the bridge you've been given.
Alternatives to bridge treatment
Depending on how many teeth are missing and the condition of the remaining teeth, other treatments can replace missing teeth. If you want something that stays in your mouth, dental implants can be an alternative to a bridge. The advantage of implant treatment over a dental bridge is that you avoid grinding down neighboring teeth for crowns.
Another solution can be removable dentures that can be taken out of the mouth.
Finally, orthodontic treatment, which involves moving the remaining teeth, can be a solution for some.
You can read much more about this topic on the Danish Dental Association website.
FAQ - Dental bridge
A dental bridge is usually used to replace one or more missing teeth and maintain proper tooth alignment and mouth function. Dental bridges can also help prevent shifts in tooth position and maintain facial shape. Dental bridges are typically made of porcelain or a combination of metal and porcelain and are designed to match surrounding teeth for a natural, aesthetic fit.
The cost of a dental bridge varies depending on several factors, such as the number of missing teeth to be replaced, the materials used and the dentist's fees.
At Tandlægerne Enghave Plads 6, our dental bridges cost from 4,547.
Yes, there are several types of dental bridges, including traditional fixed bridges, removable bridges, cantilever bridges and Maryland bridges. The choice of dental bridge depends on the number of missing teeth, tooth position, location of missing teeth and other factors. Traditional fixed bridges often require the removal of healthy tooth tissue to function, while removable bridges can be taken out and cleaned.
A dental bridge is a fixed prosthesis that replaces one or more missing teeth by spanning the empty space and anchoring itself to the surrounding teeth or implants. In contrast, a dental crown is a tooth-shaped 'cap' that is placed over a damaged or weakened tooth to protect and strengthen it. Dental bridges replace missing teeth, while dental crowns reinforce existing, damaged teeth.
Getting a dental bridge is generally not painful as we will numb the area to be treated before the procedure begins. You may experience some discomfort or sensitivity when the anesthesia wears off after treatment, but this is usually mild and short-lived. If you experience persistent pain or discomfort after getting a dental bridge, please contact us.
The lifespan of a dental bridge varies depending on a number of factors, including the type of material used, your oral health and your dental usage. A properly maintained dental bridge can typically last up to 10-15 years, but some bridges can last longer with regular check-ups and maintenance.
Contact us and get advice
If you have any doubts or questions, don't hesitate to contact us.
- I look forward to meeting you in the clinic.
- Dentist
Born 1974, graduated from the University of Copenhagen from the Department of Odontology at the School of Dentistry in 2004. Experienced dentist who has taught at the School of Dentistry in Copenhagen in gum disease and performs special treatments in periodontal disease.
Zohair has also published an article in Tandlægebladet about "periodontitis juvenilis", which can be read here or on the website of the Odontological Institute.
Contact Tandliv for questions
Do you have questions about dental bridges, prices or the treatment process?
Contact Tandliv today and get answers to your questions.
