Dental bridge in Kénitra

# What is a bridge?

A bridge is a fixed prosthesis that replaces a missing tooth. It consists of the replacement tooth and two crowns that hold it, cemented onto the neighbouring teeth — the abutment teeth. The whole thing is one piece: nothing comes out, and you chew normally.

The most common case is the three-unit bridge: one missing tooth, two abutments.

# The point to understand before choosing

To fit a bridge, both neighbouring teeth have to be prepared, even if they are perfectly healthy. That is the biological price of this solution, and it is irreversible: a prepared tooth never becomes intact again.

That is precisely why the implant is often preferred today — it replaces the missing tooth without touching its neighbours.

# Bridge or implant?

The bridge keeps its place when the neighbouring teeth are already crowned or badly damaged — nothing is sacrificed then —, when bone volume is insufficient and a graft is not wanted, or when time matters. We go into that choice here: implant, bridge or denture, how to choose.

# Replacing a tooth: fixed, removable or on implants

Four families of prostheses replace a missing tooth. The bridge, which is fixed, rests on the neighbouring teeth. The crown on an implant rests on an artificial root and leaves the neighbours untouched. The removable appliance, called a denture, is taken out for cleaning and rests on the gum; over time, the ridge beneath it changes and the appliance may hold less well: what happens under an appliance that no longer stays in place explains this. Finally, the implant-supported prosthesis, fixed or removable but held by a few implants, is discussed when the bone allows it. None of these families suits everyone. The assessment looks at the neighbouring teeth, the bone and the gum, then explains which one is worth discussing, along with its maintenance: see Caring for your dental prostheses. If the tooth has been missing for a long time, start with that page. Are you starting from a different situation? The situations described by the practice.

# The materials

The practice favours bridges with no visible metal:

• Zirconia: very strong, suited to the heavily loaded back teeth.
• Ceramic: aesthetics suited to visible teeth.
• PFM (porcelain fused to metal): more affordable, but a grey line can show at the gum over time.

See: metal-free prosthetics, ceramic and zirconia.

# How it is done

1. Assessment. Examination of the abutment teeth and a radiograph: a bridge is only as solid as its abutments.
2. Preparation. The abutment teeth are prepared under local anaesthetic.
3. Digital impression. An intraoral scanner records the arch precisely, with no paste.
4. Temporary bridge. It protects the abutments and lets you eat normally between visits.
5. Design and fitting. The bridge is designed on computer (CAD/CAM), milled, tried in, then cemented once the shade and the bite have been checked.

Allow two to three weeks between preparation and fitting.

# Lifespan and care

A well-made bridge lasts many years. Its longevity depends entirely on the health of the abutment teeth: they carry the whole structure.

Cleaning under the middle unit is the key point — that is where plaque gathers and where problems start. Suitable floss or an interdental brush, regular scaling and annual check-ups are essential.

# What can happen to the teeth that carry a bridge

A bridge lasts as long as its abutment teeth stay healthy. The systematic review by Tan et al. (2004) describes the complications observed over at least five years: biological ones, such as decay of the abutments, loss of tooth vitality or gum disease, and technical ones, such as loss of retention, fracture of an abutment or of the material.

• Decay at the edge of the crown. The junction between crown and tooth remains vulnerable; if plaque settles there, decay can progress under the bridge without being visible.
• The tooth’s nerve. A tooth prepared to carry a crown can lose its vitality, even years after fitting; root canal treatment is then needed.
• Under the false tooth. The middle unit rests on the gum: this is where plaque builds up if cleaning does not reach it every day.
• If an abutment tooth is lost. The bridge usually cannot be kept as it is: a new plan is discussed, a new bridge on other teeth, an implant or a removable prosthesis, depending on what remains.

# An older bridge that moves, smells or hurts: what is assessed

A bridge that moves, gives off a bad smell or hurts does not have a single explanation. The examination checks whether it has come loose on one of its abutments, looks for decay at the edge of the crowns, tests the vitality of the teeth, assesses the gum and the bone on X-rays and checks how the teeth meet. Depending on the findings, the bridge can be recemented, the abutment teeth treated, or a new plan proposed. The aim is to identify the cause, not to judge the earlier work.

# Dental bridge prices in Kénitra

Your full quote is given after the assessment. Coverage depends on the procedure and your scheme’s conditions: send the detailed quote to your organisation and ask for written confirmation of the procedures covered. See also our fees.

# How the practice works

Dr Azelmat sets out both solutions with their real limits before proposing a plan. If your neighbouring teeth are healthy, she will say so: preparing two intact teeth to replace one is a decision to be taken knowingly, not by default.

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