Clinical review: Dr. Samreen Ejaz, BDS, RDS ·
How a bridge stays in
A bridge fills a gap with a false tooth that is attached to supports beside the space. When teeth hold it, those neighbouring teeth may need shaping, and how much depends on the type of bridge. Dr. Samreen will show you which teeth are involved and what it means for them before any preparation is done.
Checking the whole area
We look at the gap, the teeth that would hold the bridge, your gums and your bite. If one support is weak, the whole bridge suffers, so the question isn’t just whether we can fill the space. We’ll also talk through an implant, a removable denture or leaving the gap, and how you’d look after each one.
Making and fitting it
The design decides how the teeth are prepared and what lab work is needed. You may wear a temporary while the bridge is being made. At fitting, we check how it sits, how it meets your other teeth and whether you can clean under it properly. Ask us what to do if the temporary or the final bridge comes loose.
Cleaning under the bridge
Food and plaque collect under a bridge, and a normal toothbrush won’t reach everywhere. We’ll show you how to clean it with an aid that suits your bridge. Come for your reviews and tell us about food trapping, bleeding or any movement. If one of the supporting teeth develops a problem, it can affect the whole bridge, not just that tooth.
BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT
Questions about dental bridges
Will you have to cut my healthy teeth?
It depends on the bridge design. Dr. Samreen will show you which teeth are involved, what shaping they need and what the other options are.
Can I take it out to clean it?
No, a bridge stays fixed in place. If you’d rather have something you can remove, ask about a partial denture and how to look after it.
This is general information. What’s right for your tooth depends on what Dr. Samreen finds when she examines it.
Background reading: NHS: dental treatments. These are overseas sources, so their prices and rules don’t apply here.