Oral Health Care Zone for Grown-upss

Orthodontic Treatment

Bridge

A bridge is a fixed prosthesis that is used to replace one or more missing teeth.

Before treatment	After treatment

Purpose


	To replace missing teeth in order to prevent the drifting of neighbouring teeth into the tooth space, which will result in crooked teeth or abnormal bite
	To restore the functions of teeth, including mastication, speech and aesthetics

Mechanism


	A bridge is being anchored by the teeth on either side of the tooth space; it can also be fixed by a metal wing extending from either side of the bridge.
	A bridge can be used together with crowns.

Material


	Porcelain fused to gold

Types


Conventional Bridge
	Mechanism
	The crowns on both ends of the bridge act as anchors and hold the bridge in place.
	Properties
	●	Suitable for stress bearing area
	●	Bridge can be relatively longer
	Procedures for conventional bridge
	●	The neighbouring teeth on both sides of the tooth space are shaped according to the design of the bridge.
	●	Impressions of the upper and lower dental arches are taken and the bite registration is recorded.
	●	The bridge is fabricated in the dental laboratory.
	●	The finished bridge is tried in the patient's mouth and adjustment is made accordingly.
	●	The bridge is cemented onto the prepared teeth.

Cantilever Bridge
	Mechanism
	●	The bridge is only supported or fixed on one neighbouring tooth.
	Properties
	●	Suitable for low stress bearing area
	●	Can only replace one missing tooth For example, replacement of a lateral incisor by a cantilever bridge anchored by the central incisor
	Procedures for cantilever bridge
	●	The neighbouring tooth of the missing tooth is shaped according to the design of the bridge.
	●	Impressions of the upper and lower dental arches are taken and the bite registration is recorded.
	●	The bridge is fabricated in the dental laboratory.
	●	The finished bridge is tried in the patient's mouth and adjustment is made accordingly.
	●	The bridge is cemented onto the prepared tooth.

Maryland Bridge
	Mechanism
	●	The bridge is anchored by metal wings extending from both ends, and composite resin is used to bond the metal wings to the neighbouring teeth.
	Properties
	●	Only suitable for low stress bearing area
	●	The teeth used to support the bridge should have enough enamel structure
	Procedures for Maryland bridge
	●	The inner surfaces of neighbouring teeth of the missing tooth are shaped according to the design of the bridge.
	●	Impressions of the upper and lower dental arches are taken and the bite registration is recorded.
	●	The bridge is fabricated in the dental laboratory.
	●	The finished bridge is tried in the patient's mouth and adjustment is made accordingly.
	●	The bridge is bonded onto the prepared teeth.
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