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Dental
Services
Check-ups and X-rays
Crowns
Fissure Sealants
Missing Teeth
- Dentures
- Bridges
- Implants
Mouthguards
Root Canal Treatment
Sedation
Straightening Teeth
Veneers
Wisdom Teeth
Dental
Hygienist
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Whitening
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What
are the important
things I need to know
about dental health?
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Bridges to replace missing teeth
What are they made from?
| All
gold crown |
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All
ceramic crowns |
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Bridges can be
made entirely from dental gold or entirely from dental
ceramics or a combination. The most common type is the
porcelain fused to metal bridge. All metal bridges are
the strongest, but don't look natural. All ceramic
bridges are the most natural looking, but are not as durable.
The porcelain veneered to metal bridge gives the best balance
between strength and aesthetics by employing a metal
substructure for strength which is covered on the outside with
tooth-like dental ceramic.
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Steps in making a
bridge
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The
patient has a missing tooth that will be replaced with a
bridge. |
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The
anchor teeth are prepared and an impression is made of the
prepared teeth to send to the dental technician. A
temporary plastic bridge is fitted over the prepared teeth to
protect them while the final bridge is being manufactured. |
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The
finished porcelain fused to metal bridge is tried in and the
bite adjusted if necessary. |
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Once
the fit, shape and colour of the bridge is satisfactory the
bridge is cemented in place permanently. A very natural
looking end result is achieved. |
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How do I take care of my
bridge?
Ceramic crowns and bridges
should be brushed and flossed just like regular teeth. With
bridges a special Butler® floss threader or Oral-B®
Superfloss® is used to clean under the bridge.
Flossing>>
Special
Flossing>>
More information:
Read
our page on Crowns - Bridges usually have crowns on either end to
anchor the bridge to the supporting teeth. The same principles for
crowns apply to bridges.
New Zealand Dental Association topic - bridges
American Dental Association topic - bridges
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