
Nov
A dental bridge is a dental treatment structure utilized to replace missing teeth in patients. A dental bridge normally utilizes the two adjacent teeth on either side of a missing tooth to provide a solid and firm hold. As the name suggests, a dental bridge literally bridges the gap created by a missing tooth by replacing the missing tooth with a part of the dental bridge.
The dental bridge fabrication process involves several stages, where the entire process takes about two weeks.
The initial step of the process typically starts with a diagnostic wax-up or molding of the area of the mouth where the tooth is missing. This wax-up is performed by the dentist to fabricate a model. The teeth in the area where a tooth is missing are waxed up and duplicated to be utilized as a template for the temporary bridge and the final bridge that the patient will use permanently thereafter.
Following the waxing process, the patient is given an anesthetic. Then, the teeth that will be used to provide support for the dental bridge are prepared and an impression of them are taken and sent to the dental lab. At the dental lab, the dental bridge of the patient is fabricated and then it is returned to the dental office for placement.
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Once the dental office receives the final dental bridge, the patient is informed to come back for the final appointment. During this consultation, the temporary bridge which was placed in the patient is removed and the final bridge prosthesis is placed inside the mouth, and cemented onto the prepared two adjacent teeth. The final touches of the placement process include the cleaning of the cement and adjusting the patient’s bite so that he or she will be able to speak, chew and smile normally immediately after the procedure.
Mark A Cruz graduated from the UCLA School of Dentistry in 1986 and started a dental practice in Monarch Beach, CA upon graduation. He has lectured nationally and internationally and is a member of various dental organizations. He was a part-time lecturer at UCLA and a member of the faculty group practice and was past assistant director of the UCLA Center for Esthetic Dentistry. He has served on the National Institute of Health/NIDCR (National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research) Grant review Committee in Washington D.C. as well as on the editorial board for the Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice (Elsevier) and is currently serving on the DSMB (data safety management board) for the NPBRN (national practice-based research network.