Dental bridges in Blackpool

A dental bridge is a false tooth that is fixed to the teeth on either side of a gap. The false tooth is called a pontic. The teeth that hold it are called abutments. Together they form a bridge across the gap.

A bridge can be the right choice when the teeth next to the gap are strong. It is also a good fit if those teeth already have large fillings or crowns, because a crown on them does double duty. It suits people who do not want surgery, or who cannot have an implant because of bone loss or a medical condition.

A bridge is not the only option. If the neighbouring teeth are healthy and untouched, a dental implant leaves them alone. If several teeth are missing in different places, a partial denture may be simpler. We go through all of this at your examination.

Conventional bridge: crowns on the neighbouring teeth

A conventional bridge is the most common type. We shape the teeth either side of the gap so a crown fits over each one. The false tooth is joined to those crowns as one piece. A lab makes it from porcelain bonded to metal, or from all-porcelain, to match your other teeth.

Each crown and each false tooth counts as 1 unit. A single missing tooth with a crown on each side is 3 units. The price is from £568.96 per unit, so the total depends on how many units your bridge needs.

Maryland (resin-bonded) bridge: less drilling, front teeth

A Maryland bridge has a false tooth with a thin metal or ceramic wing on the back. We bond the wing to the back of 1 neighbouring tooth with strong dental resin. Very little, or sometimes no, drilling is needed.

Maryland bridges are mostly used for front teeth, where biting forces are lower. They are from £785.12. They are a good option when you want to keep the neighbouring teeth as natural as possible, or as a medium-term option for a younger patient who may have an implant later.

What happens: examination, preparation, temporary bridge, fit

1. Examination. A new patient examination from £79, X-rays included. We check the gap, the teeth either side and the gum and bone around them. You get a written plan with the number of units and the price.
2. Preparation. For a conventional bridge we numb the area with anaesthetic (numbing injection) and shape the neighbouring teeth. We take an impression or a scan for the lab. For a Maryland bridge this step is much lighter.
3. Temporary bridge. You leave with a temporary bridge while the lab makes your final one. This usually takes about 2 weeks.
4. Fit. We try the bridge in, check the colour and your bite, and bond it in place. We show you how to clean under it.

Most bridges take 2 to 3 visits. If you need a tooth taken out first, the gum needs time to heal before the final bridge is made. See tooth extraction for what that involves.

Every figure below is a “from” price taken from our full price list. Your own written quote is given at your examination, before any treatment starts.

A 3-unit conventional bridge for 1 missing tooth is priced per unit. The exact number of units, and whether you need any other treatment first, is confirmed at your examination. If a tooth needs to come out before the bridge, that is priced separately on the price list.

0% finance over 6 or 10 months via V12 is available, subject to status. Tower Dental is a credit broker, not a lender. See finance and payment for how it works. We also accept card and cash, and members of our dental plan get a discount on treatment.

Compare this with a crown on a single damaged tooth, a dental implant or dentures. Our compare your options page puts the main choices side by side.

A bridge usually suits you if:

• You are missing 1 tooth, or 2 next to each other, and the teeth either side are sound.
• The neighbouring teeth already have big fillings or crowns, so crowning them makes sense.
• You would rather not have surgery, or you cannot have an implant.
• You want a fixed tooth, not one you take out.

A bridge may not be the right choice if:

• The teeth either side are healthy and untouched. Shaping them for crowns removes enamel that cannot be put back. An implant avoids this.
• The neighbouring teeth are loose, heavily decayed or have gum disease. They may not be strong enough to carry a bridge.
• You are missing several teeth spread across the mouth. A partial denture or implants may work better.
• You grind your teeth heavily. A bridge can still work, but we may suggest a night guard to protect it.

A bridge does not stop the jawbone under the gap from slowly shrinking. An implant does help keep that bone. That is one of the main things we weigh up with you.

Implants at Tower Dental are placed by Dr San Chatterjee (GDC 84643), who has a special interest in implantology (implant treatment). Read more on his profile page.

For a fuller side-by-side, see implants vs bridge and implants vs dentures.

A bridge can last many years with good care. How long depends on how well you clean it, the health of the teeth holding it, and how hard you bite. Bridges often need replacing after several years, so we check yours at every examination.

The main job is keeping the gum under the false tooth clean. Food and plaque collect there, and the teeth holding the bridge can decay at the edge of the crown if it is missed.

• Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, including along the gum line of the bridge.
• Clean under the false tooth once a day with floss threaders, super floss or a small interdental brush. We show you how at the fitting.
• Keep up your check-ups and hygiene visits so we can spot any problem early.
• Avoid biting very hard things like ice or pen lids with the bridge.
• If you grind your teeth at night, ask us about a night guard.

If your bridge feels loose, or the gum around it is sore, call us on 01253 353759. A loose bridge is usually easier to fix if we see it early.

Tower Dental is at 302a Devonshire Road, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY2 0TW. We are open Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 17:30. Call 01253 353759 or email info@towerdental.uk.

The practice is on the first floor and is not wheelchair accessible. A stairlift is available for patients who find stairs difficult. Please tell us when you book so we can help. There is free on-street parking on and around Devonshire Road.

We see patients for bridges from across the Fylde Coast, including Bispham, Cleveleys, Thornton, Poulton-le-Fylde, Fleetwood, Lytham, St Annes, Kirkham and Preston. Our sister practice is Station House Dental Care in Barnoldswick.

Related treatments

• Dental implants — from £2,800 for a single implant & crown
• Dental crowns — PBC crown from £672, porcelain crown from £739.20
• Dentures — single arch from £1,029.25
• Tooth extraction
• Compare your options
• New patients: start here

Related: Wisdom teeth