Downsview Dental Care Cosmetic Dentistry A Smile Worth Paying For | Page 11

Bridges
In both reconstructive and cosmetic dentistry missing teeth can be replace quite
effectively using a technique called bridging. In this practice teeth either side of the
missing tooth are crowned and they are used to bridge the gap using a false tooth which
they hold in place. Bridges are typically permanent structures and cannot be removed
like dentures. Traditional bridges are by far the most common type of bridge fitted and
they are made from usually porcelain fused to a metal bridge. Bridges replace missing
teeth and are an alternative to implants so have structural as well as cosmetic functions.
For example they can improve the patients bite and stop other teeth from drifting out of
position so are not purely cosmetic as they do serve real structural purpose.