Anyone who has a tooth missing or needs to have a tooth extracted but has healthy teeth on either side may want to consider having a bridge. This is a procedure in which the healthy teeth on either side of the gap are prepared to receive the bridge.
To prepare the teeth, some of the tooth structure is removed. While the tooth structure is being removed, you will be given numbing agents so you will not feel a thing. The bridge is then fabricated to look exactly like the missing tooth and the teeth on either side from an impression that is made before your teeth are prepared. The fabrication is then cemented onto the prepared teeth to provide you with a seamless smile that appears as if you never lost a tooth in the first place. Bridges can be fabricated entirely out of gold, can be made of porcelain with a gold base, or can be made entirely from porcelain (similar to certain veneers) for a more natural look. The entire process can take a few weeks, as it is necessary to allow your gums to heal and for the bridge to be fabricated.
