Bridges in Abingdon, Oxford

At Ock Street Clinic we use a variety of methods to closing gaps between teeth.

One of these methods is to use a Bridge, which usually has its foundations on the tooth adjacent to the gap or, commonly, both teeth either side of the gap. A conventional bridge is in effect one or more porcelain crowns jointed to a crowned tooth on either side of a gap. A cantilever or Maryland bridge is formed from a crown unit jointed to only one other crowned tooth.

One disadvantage of a conventional bridge can be the reliance on the neighbouring teeth for support, especially if these teeth have previously been heavily restored themselves, the other main disadvantage is that in some cases a healthy tooth must be treated to form the bridge and that may ultimately lead to further restoration work being needed in future on what was initially a healthy tooth. Because of these disdvantages you should also consider the option of a dental implant to replace a missing tooth if this is an available option for you.

A well fabricated and skillfully fitted bridge should look beautiful and we recommend using porcelain bonded to a precious metal base. There are also other non-precious metals available to reduce the cost.

There are many reasons you should replace missing teeth: Gaps in teeth can be unsightly, they can form food traps that make further tooth decay and gum disease more likely, the teeth in the opposing jaw opposite the gap can ‘overerupt’ or grow into the space left by the missing tooth, and may even lead to problems with your jaw joints (TMJ dysfunction).