Dental Bridges London

Smiling couple showing healthy, complete teeth after dental bridges treatment in a London Dentist.

Do you have one or more missing teeth? You are not alone! Nearly 75% of adults in the UK do not have a full set of natural teeth. Many people do not understand the long-term impact that missing teeth can have on their bite, speech, or confidence.

Dental bridges are fixed dental appliances used to fill in the space left by one or more missing teeth, literally bridging the gap. Many types of dental bridges exist, each suited to different clinical situations and patient needs. They are all, however, fixed and can only be removed by a dentist.

While traditional dental bridges relied on neighbouring natural teeth for support, advances in dental bridge dentistry and technology now offer more long-lasting solutions. At Smile Cliniq, we now offer implant supported bridges, which are great for patients with larger gaps or multiple missing teeth. See our portfolio to view real patient results achieved by our expert team.

Dental Bridges London Before and After Gallery

What is a dental bridge and how does it work? A dental bridge is a custom-made precision item that is cemented over your tooth or implant to completely cover it and restore an adjacent gap. Traditionally dental bridges have been described as ceramic fused to metal. Dental bridges of this nature are most frequently used. However advancing technology has provided materials based on Zirconium, which has eliminated the requirement for a metal substructure for your bridge. All ceramic bridges now are the gold standard in providing the ultimate aesthetic result.

Resin bonded bridges, also known as Maryland bridges, are the quickest, most conservative, and cost-effective solution to restoring that gap in your smile. They rely on good quality and quantity of tooth substance to be present. A metal wing is bonded to a sound neighbouring tooth, carrying an aesthetic custom-made ceramic bridge dental tooth to bridge the gap.

London Dental Bridges Dentists at Smile Cliniq

Dr Abeer Shehadeh

BDS – Damascus University, Syria (2011)

Associate Dentist

Dr Abeer Shehadeh
Dr Chetan Kaher

BDS BSc (Hons) MFDS RCS (Eng)

Principal Dentist
Dr Chetan Kaher
Dr Krishen Shah

BDS (Lond) MJDF RCS (Eng) Pg Cert Dental Ed (Beds) MSc Endo (Lond)

Associate Dentist With Special Interest In Endodotics

Dr Krishen Shah
Dr Nickil Dhokia

BDS (Lond) Kings College, PG Cert Advanced Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry, MFDS

Associate Dentist | Invisalign & Composite Bonding Provider

Dr Nickil Dhokia
Dr Ravinder Varaich

BDS MFGDP RCS ENG MAE

Associate Dentist | Accredited Expert Witness In Clinical Negligence

Dr Ravinder Varaich
Dr Sarah Bux

BDS MFDS RCS (Ed)

Associate Dentist

Dr Sarah Bux
Dr Sarita Kotecha

BDS – Guy’s, King’s and St. Thomas’s School for Medicine and Dentistry, UK

Principal Dentist

Dr Sarita Kotecha

Why are Dental Bridge London Treatments used?

Dental bridge treatment at Smile Cliniq London addresses both aesthetic and functional needs. Gaps in the front of your mouth provide a poor cosmetic appearance and affect speech and eating. A dental bridge front teeth restoration can have a transformative effect on confidence and daily life.

Missing teeth further back in your mouth, where a molar bridge may be required, may provide significant limits to your diet. These reduce the pleasure and enjoyment associated with food and social occasions.

Unstable, unsightly loose dentures have the potential to be replaced with a fixed bridge for teeth restoration. Bridging that gap will provide you with a life-changing experience and the confidence to smile at all times.

Initial consultation, assessment and planning will occur with our London bridge dentist. The options appropriate to your case will be thoroughly discussed with you. Preoperative pictures and tooth shade will be taken and the process is initiated. Impressions may be taken to allow our ceramist to provide a diagnostic wax-up, this will physically allow you to visualise and approve the intended outcome

best quality dental bridge in london at smile cliniq

Advantages of Dental Bridges London

Restoring a natural look to your mouth/smile
Restoring the ability to speak normally, as missing teeth can impede proper enunciation
Maintaining normal facial structure by preventing bone loss from the jaw at the site of the missing tooth/teeth
Restoring the ability to chew food efficiently
Preventing adjacent teeth from moving into the empty space, which can cause problems with your bite and lead to other complications

Disadvantages of Dental Bridges London

Future damage to the abutment teeth can compromise the bridge.
If the crowns are ill-fitting, bacteria and plaque may get inside and cause tooth decay.
The crowns may change the structure of your teeth, affecting your bite.
If the abutment teeth aren’t strong enough to support the bridge, the bridge could collapse.
The abutment teeth may be weakened by the procedure(s) and have to be replaced by dental implants.

Maryland, Implant Retained and Conventional Dental Bridge London Treatments

Resin Bonded Dental Bridges (Maryland Bridges)

A resin retained bridge requires no or very little preparation of your tooth, therefore, negating the need for local anaesthetic. An impression will be taken of the tooth and sent to our ceramist along with your smile design and custom prescription. The Smile Cliniq ceramist follows your custom prescription to handcraft your bridge. This is then tried in and, after approval, cemented in. Resin-bonded bridges are cheaper than conventional bridges and involve fewer tooth preparations, but they do not last as long as the latter.

Implant Supported Bridges

Implant retained bridges are the closest man-made item to replacing natural teeth. Many combinations of the implant supported bridges are possible. From a single tooth bridge to larger restorations spanning multiple gaps. Dental implants and bridges cost will be discussed in full at your consultation. Initial consultation, assessment and planning will occur with one of our dentists, and all options appropriate to your case will be thoroughly discussed.

Conventional Dental Bridges London Smile Cliniq

The dental bridge procedure for a traditional dental bridge follows the same process as a crown. The teeth on either side of the gap, aka the abutment teeth, are prepared, impressions are taken, and the bridge is crafted in our laboratory before being permanently cemented.

Types of Conventional Bridges

EMAX

Ivoclar Vivadent’s patented lithium disilicate material is truly a revolution for the dental industry. Never before has a material been able to combine high strength, high aesthetics and ease of use into one product, until now. IPS e.max is a lithium disilicate glass-ceramic that has optimized translucency, durability and strength for full anatomical restorations. Due to the use of new technologies and optimized processing parameters, IPS e.max lithium disilicate has evolved beyond previously available lithium disilicate ceramics. Indeed, compared to other glass ceramics, demonstrates a strength that is 2.5 to 3 times higher. IPS e.max lithium disilicate restorations exhibit superior durability featuring 360-400 MPa of flexural strength. When fabricated to full contour, the monolithic structure is the most robust ceramic system tested to date. The opalescence, translucency and light diffusion properties of IPS e.max lithium disilicate were all designed to replicate natural tooth structure for beauty and undetectable restorations.

Zirconia

Zirconia is the strongest crown material on the market today. The Zirconia material typically used by most manufacturers is tetragonal polycrystalline zirconia, partially stabilized with yttrium oxide. Zirconia materials typically have strengths of over 900 MPa. The Zirconia bridge price will be confirmed at your consultation based on the complexity of your case.

Porcelain Bonded to Metal

White porcelain bonded to a metal substructure. The metal gives strength whilst the porcelain gives the white colour. Not as natural looking as Emax and gradia crowns. The metal substructure may be non–precious or precious metal depending on the patient’s choice. Precious metal is generally preferable as it is more biocompatible with the gingival (gums) leading to less inflammation and less risk of corrosion. The weak point here is the bond between the porcelain and metal, and over time the porcelain breaks off the metal. Also, as gums recede with age, a black line may be seen above the crown and this leads to an unsightly smile. This blackness is the metal in the crown. This does not occur with all-porcelain/ceramic crowns.

It is generally accepted that between 1 in 5 and 1 in 8 teeth crowned go on to become non-vital and require a root canal treatment at some stage and this can sometimes be many years after the initial crown.

Dental Bridges London Review

It may take a couple of days for you to become accustomed to your new bridge. You will be invited to return a few weeks after your dental bridge London fitting to review your oral health status, condition of the bridge and feedback on the cosmetic result of the dental bridge London treatment. It is important to employ a strict oral hygiene regime encompassing professional hygiene intervention, as a bridge will not protect natural teeth from decay or gum disease. You will be shown the most appropriate method to ensure optimal oral health. As with any treatment regular recall and review is essential to ensure the optimal status of your bridge.

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Dental Bridges London FAQs

The main types of dental bridges are traditional dental bridges (tooth-supported), implant supported bridges, cantilever bridges (anchored on one side only), and Maryland bridges (resin-bonded with minimal tooth preparation). Each type suits different clinical situations. Our team will assess which is most appropriate for you at your consultation.

Traditional bridges require the removal of enamel from adjacent teeth to place crowns, which is irreversible.
Maryland bridges use a framework of metal or porcelain that is bonded onto the backs of the abutment teeth, requiring little to no preparation.
Cantilever bridges are less common due to their lower strength and durability compared to traditional bridges.
Implant-supported bridges use dental implants instead of crowns or frameworks to hold the bridge in position, typically requiring two surgeries. They are considered the strongest and most stable option for replacing multiple missing teeth.

Generally, the maximum number of missing teeth that can be bridged between two supporting teeth or implants is four, but this will be influenced by the factors already mentioned. A bridge can also be more extensive and restore multiple gaps between more than two teeth or implants.

If you’re missing more than one consecutive tooth, a dental bridge is likely a better option than an implant. A separate implant needs to be surgically attached to your jawbone for each missing tooth, leading to expensive and often impractical surgery.

The dental bridge procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic, so you should not feel pain during treatment. After the placement of a dental bridge, there can be some soreness from the gum or slight sensitivity to hot and cold food and drinks. This is normal and usually settles within a few days. If you experience persistent pain or sensitivity for more than a few days after getting a dental bridge, you should see your dentist as soon as possible.

It is normally not difficult to eat with a dental bridge, particularly if the bridge is fixed and not removable. This type of dental bridge is sealed to the support teeth, which are connected to the fake tooth (crown). Most patients find that getting a dental bridge improves their chewing ability significantly compared to having a gap.

The dental bridge cost varies depending on the number of missing teeth being restored, the materials used, and whether the bridge is tooth-supported or implant supported. The most accurate and fair approach is to provide every patient with a full written dental bridge cost breakdown following a comprehensive assessment of their current dental health and the creation of a treatment plan.

Porcelain and ceramic bridges are generally more expensive than metal alternatives due to their natural appearance. The complexity of the treatment affects the cost, with replacing multiple teeth being more expensive than a single tooth.

Smile Cliniq offers financing options to help spread the cost of dental bridge treatments. Speak to our team about flexible payment plans at your consultation.

NHS bridges for teeth are provided under Band 3 treatment, which carries a fixed patient charge of roughly £300. However, NHS dental bridges are subject to clinical criteria. They must be deemed clinically necessary rather than purely cosmetic. NHS availability also depends on your dentist’s NHS list status. Where NHS criteria are not met, or where a higher standard of material and aesthetics is required, private dental bridge treatment at Smile Cliniq offers a wider range of options. Speak to our team to understand what is available to you.

Find Our Clinics

St Johns Wood Practice

Address:
102 Boundary Rd, London NW8 0RH

Nearest Station:
Swiss Cottage, Finchley Road, St Johns Wood, Kilburn High road.

Nearest Bus Stop:
Boundary Road / Abbey Road (Buses 139, 189)

Finchley Practice

Address:
138 Ballards Ln, Church End, London N3 2PA

Nearest Station:
Finchley Central & West Finchley (Northern Line)

Nearest Bus Stop:
Ballard’s Lane / Christchurch Avenue (Buses 13, 125, 460)