"I want the gap filled but not with surgery."
A bridge avoids the surgery and months of healing implant treatment requires, and gives a fixed result in weeks.
Practical outcome: a fixed replacement tooth without an operation.
A fixed replacement in weeks, not months
Dental Bridges in Mapperley, Nottingham
Filling a gap with a fixed replacement tooth anchored to the teeth either side.
A bridge is quicker than an implant and does not involve surgery. The trade-off is that the supporting teeth are usually prepared, which permanently removes enamel from them.
Fully private practice, no long waiting list
Early, late and weekend appointments available
Booked in advance, subject to availability
Membership plans from £14.10 a month
The straight answer
What is a dental bridge?
A dental bridge replaces a missing tooth with a false tooth held in place by the teeth either side of the gap. In a conventional bridge those teeth are prepared and crowned, with the replacement tooth joined between them. An adhesive bridge instead bonds a wing to the back of one adjacent tooth, removing little or no enamel.
The problem it treats
A gap left by a missing tooth affects appearance and chewing, and allows neighbouring teeth to drift and the opposing tooth to over-erupt, which changes the bite over time.
How it works
The supporting teeth are prepared where a conventional bridge is used, a digital scan is taken and the bridge is made as a single unit in a laboratory. It is then cemented or bonded into place. Adhesive bridges are far more conservative and are often the better choice for a single front tooth.
What is realistic
A bridge is fixed and comparatively quick, but it links teeth together, which makes cleaning under it essential. Bone under the gap continues to shrink because nothing is loading it, and if one supporting tooth fails the whole bridge is affected.
Why patients come to us
When a bridge is considered
"The teeth either side already need crowns."
Where the neighbouring teeth are heavily restored and would benefit from crowning anyway, a bridge uses work that is needed regardless.
Practical outcome: the gap filled and the adjacent teeth restored in one piece of treatment.
"I lost a front tooth and want something fixed quickly."
An adhesive bridge bonds a wing to the back of an adjacent tooth, removing little or no enamel and giving a fixed replacement without extensive preparation.
Practical outcome: a conservative fixed option, particularly useful for younger patients and while considering an implant.
Potential benefits and things to consider
What this treatment gives you, and the practicalities worth knowing before you book.
Potential benefits
- Fixed and quick. A fixed result in weeks rather than the months implant treatment requires.
- No surgery. Nothing is placed in the bone and there is no surgical healing period.
- Restores appearance and chewing. The gap is filled and the bite is stabilised, preventing drift.
- Adhesive option is conservative. A Maryland bridge can replace a front tooth with little or no enamel removal.
- Lower cost than an implant. Generally less expensive than implant treatment for the same gap.
Things to consider
- Healthy teeth are prepared. A conventional bridge permanently removes enamel from the teeth either side, which may be entirely sound.
- Cleaning takes more effort. The teeth are joined, so floss threaders or interdental brushes are needed to clean underneath.
- One failure affects the whole bridge. If a supporting tooth decays or fails, the entire bridge usually needs remaking.
- Bone still shrinks. Nothing loads the bone under the gap, so it continues to resorb.
- Adhesive bridges can debond. They are conservative but can come off and need re-bonding, particularly under heavy bite forces.
Suitability
Who is a bridge suitable for?
Typically a good fit
- Patients with one or two missing teeth and sound teeth either side
- People who want a fixed result without surgery
- Cases where the adjacent teeth are already heavily restored and need crowning anyway
- Younger patients or those awaiting implant treatment, using an adhesive bridge
Where more assessment is needed first
- Adjacent teeth that are unrestored and entirely healthy, where preparing them is a significant cost in tooth structure
- Active gum disease, which must be stabilised first
- Long gaps, where a bridge may not be strong enough
- Heavy grinding, which loads bridges and adhesive wings heavily
- Poor cleaning, since a bridge is harder to keep clean than separate teeth
When we may suggest something else
- A dental implant, which leaves neighbouring teeth untouched and helps maintain bone
- A partial denture, which is removable and less invasive
- An adhesive bridge instead of a conventional one, where the gap is at the front
- Leaving the gap where the tooth is not visible and the bite is stable
What we ask of you
Attend the examination and hygiene intervals your dentist recommends
Follow the home cleaning routine agreed with your dentist or hygienist
Tell us about medical conditions and medication, and about any changes
Your dentist will confirm whether this treatment is suitable after examining your teeth, gums, bite and wider oral health.
Step by step
What happens when you have a bridge fitted
01
Assessment
The gap, the supporting teeth and the bite are assessed, with radiographs to check the roots and bone of the teeth that would carry the bridge.
02
Comparing the options
Implants, dentures, adhesive and conventional bridges are set out with their costs, timescales and what each involves for the neighbouring teeth.
03
Preparation
For a conventional bridge, the supporting teeth are shaped under local anaesthetic. For an adhesive bridge, little or no preparation is needed.
04
Digital scan
A precise digital scan is taken for the laboratory, along with a shade match. A temporary bridge is fitted (when necessary) where teeth have been prepared.
05
Fitting
The bridge is tried in and checked for fit, appearance and bite, then cemented or bonded. Cleaning underneath it is demonstrated before you leave.
06
Review
The bridge, the supporting teeth and the gum beneath the false tooth are checked at routine examinations.
The first appointment is an examination and a discussion. No treatment is carried out without your agreement, and you leave with a written plan and costs.
Our practice at a glance
Bridges compared with implants and dentures
The right option depends on the state of the neighbouring teeth, your general health, the timescale and the budget.
| Dental bridge | Dental implant | Removable denture | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best suited to | A short gap with sound or already-restored teeth either side | A gap with healthy gums and adequate bone | Several missing teeth, or where cost or health rules out other options |
| Neighbouring teeth | Prepared and crowned, unless adhesive | Untouched | Untouched, though clasps rest on them |
| Surgery required | No | Yes | No |
| Typical timescale | A few weeks | Several months | A few weeks |
| Effect on bone | Bone under the gap continues to shrink | Helps maintain bone at the site | Bone continues to shrink, so fit changes |
| Cleaning | Floss threaders or interdental brushes needed under the false tooth | Brushing and cleaning around the implant | Removed and cleaned daily |
| Indicative cost | Middle | Highest | Lowest |
| Main advantage | Fixed result quickly and without surgery | Stands alone and preserves neighbouring teeth | Least invasive and least expensive |
| Main consideration | Healthy teeth are cut down and one failure affects the whole bridge | Surgery, months of healing and highest cost | Moves during function and needs periodic adjustment |
Scroll the table sideways to see every option.
Fees
How much does a dental bridge cost in Mapperley?
No bridge fee is published on the practice price list. Bridges are costed individually because the number of units and the type of bridge change the total. A conventional bridge is broadly related to the crown fee multiplied by the number of units involved. As a guide, a two-unit bridge works out at roughly the crown fee per unit, for example £768 × 2.
Treatment fees from
- CrownsFrom £768
- Dental implantsFrom £3,500
- DenturesFrom £795
- ExtractionsFrom £155
- New patient examination£65
Monthly membership plans
Essentials
£14.10 / monthOne examination and one hygiene appointment a year, priority access and emergency support.
Most popular
Maintenance
£25.95 / monthTwo examinations and two hygiene appointments a year, priority access and emergency support.
Comprehensive
£39.45 / monthTwo examinations and four hygiene appointments a year, priority access and emergency support.
All three plans include priority appointment availability, a 10% discount on non-cosmetic treatment and eligibility for the Worldwide Dental Emergency Assistance Scheme.
What may change your final figure
- How many units the bridge spans
- Whether the bridge is conventional or adhesive
- Which materials are used
- Whether the supporting teeth need treatment before preparation
- Whether you are a plan member, which applies the 10% discount
Your personalised cost is confirmed in writing after your examination. The figures above are starting prices for guidance only. They are not a quotation and do not take account of your individual clinical needs. You will receive a written plan setting out the recommended treatment, sequence and cost. No treatment begins until you have agreed it.
Your dentist
Meet your principal dentist
- NameDr Rupchhen Tamang
- PositionPrincipal Dentist
- GDC Number255396
- Experience11+ years providing general and cosmetic dentistry
- Further trainingPostgraduate certificate in Endodontics
- Particular skillTreating young children and patients with dental anxiety
Whether someone comes in for a check-up or a full cosmetic plan, the first appointment is the same: time to listen, a proper look, and a clear explanation of the options and what they cost. Everything else follows from that.
Dr Rupchhen Tamang, Principal Dentist
A general dental practitioner is not a specialist. The word "specialist" should not be used unless a clinician appears on the relevant GDC specialist list.
Comfort and aftercare
What treatment actually feels like
During treatment
Preparation of the supporting teeth is carried out under local anaesthetic. Adhesive bridges often need little or no preparation and sometimes no injection at all.
You will feel pressure and vibration during preparation. Agree a hand signal beforehand so you can pause at any point.
After treatment
Sensitivity of the prepared teeth for a period afterwards is common. Temporary bridges are more fragile, so avoid sticky and hard food and contact the practice if one comes off.
Cleaning underneath the bridge feels awkward at first. Contact the practice if the bridge feels high, if the gum under the false tooth becomes sore, or if an adhesive bridge debonds.
Looking after your result
- Clean underneath the false tooth daily with a floss threader, superfloss or an interdental brush. This is the single most important habit for bridge longevity.
- Attend routine examinations so the supporting teeth and margins can be checked.
- Avoid biting hard objects, particularly with an adhesive bridge at the front.
- Wear a night guard if you grind, since bridges concentrate load on the supporting teeth.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions about dental bridges
How long does a bridge last?
A well-made and well-maintained bridge commonly lasts many years, but there is no guaranteed figure. The most common reason for replacement is decay at the margin of a supporting tooth, which is why cleaning underneath the bridge daily matters so much. Grinding and heavy bite forces shorten its life.
Do you have to drill my healthy teeth?
For a conventional bridge, yes. The teeth either side are prepared and crowned to carry the false tooth, which permanently removes enamel. If those teeth are healthy and unrestored, that is a genuine cost worth weighing against an implant. An adhesive bridge removes little or no enamel and may be an option, particularly at the front.
Is a bridge better than an implant?
Neither is better in every case. A bridge is quicker, needs no surgery and costs less, but it prepares healthy teeth and the bone under the gap keeps shrinking. An implant leaves neighbours untouched and helps maintain bone, but requires surgery, months of healing and a higher cost. Where the adjacent teeth already need crowns, a bridge is often the more logical choice.
How do I clean under a bridge?
With a floss threader, superfloss or an interdental brush passed underneath the false tooth. The teeth are joined together so ordinary flossing between them is not possible. It feels awkward for the first week or two and then becomes routine. This is demonstrated when the bridge is fitted.
What happens if one of the supporting teeth fails?
Because the units are joined, a problem with one supporting tooth usually means the whole bridge has to be removed and remade, and sometimes a different treatment is then needed. This is one of the main differences from an implant, which stands alone and does not put neighbouring teeth at risk.
Will the false tooth look natural?
It is shade-matched to your surrounding teeth and, on front teeth, contoured so the gum sits naturally against it. Where the ridge has already shrunk significantly, achieving a natural emergence from the gum is harder, and your dentist will explain what is realistic before treatment.
Can I have a bridge if I have gum disease?
Not until it is stabilised. A bridge relies entirely on the supporting teeth, and those teeth rely on the bone around them. Placing a bridge onto teeth with active gum disease risks losing both the bridge and the teeth carrying it. Gum treatment first is what makes the result last.
Still unsure about something? Call the practice on 0115 647 9990 and ask.
Finding us
Visit Mapperley Dental Studio
Where to find us
Mapperley Dental Studio870 Woodborough Road
Mapperley
Nottingham
NG3 5QQ
- Telephone
- 0115 647 9990
Opening hours
| Monday | 9am to 5pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 8am to 8pm |
| Wednesday | 8am to 8pm |
| Thursday | 9am to 5pm |
| Friday | 9am to 5pm |
| Saturday | Pre-booked appointments only |
| Sunday | Closed |
Patient feedback
What Patients Say
Start with a consultation, not a commitment
Your first appointment is an assessment and a conversation. You leave with a written plan setting out what is recommended, in what order, and what it costs, and you decide what happens next.