Dental Bridges in Marlow, Beaconsfield & High Wycombe

• Conventional Bridge – Used when there are healthy teeth on both sides of the gap. The false tooth (pontic) is held in place by two crowns fitted over the adjacent teeth, which are prepared by removing a small amount of enamel to allow the crowns to sit correctly. A conventional bridge can span more than one missing tooth. It is a reliable, long-established solution that restores both function and appearance.
• Cantilever Dental Bridge – Used nearer the front of the mouth where a false tooth needs support from only one adjacent tooth, rather than two. The supporting tooth can be prepared and covered with a crown, or — where the adjacent tooth is healthy and filling-free — a minimal-preparation approach using a thin piece of metal or ceramic bonded to the inner surface (a Maryland or resin-bonded bridge) can be used instead. This approach preserves the supporting tooth and is completely aesthetic, as the bonded wing is hidden from view.
• Maryland (Resin-Bonded) Bridge – A Maryland bridge is a conservative option that avoids the need to prepare healthy teeth. A thin metal or ceramic wing is bonded to the back surface of the adjacent tooth, holding the false tooth in place. It is most commonly used for front teeth where biting forces are lower. The advantage is that no healthy tooth structure needs to be removed — making it a reversible option particularly well suited to younger patients or where a minimal-intervention approach is preferred.
• Implant-Supported Bridge – Where more than one tooth is missing and no healthy adjacent teeth are available — or where avoiding the preparation of sound teeth is a priority — an implant-supported bridge provides a fixed solution anchored to dental implants placed in the jawbone rather than to natural teeth. At Conway House, implant-supported bridges are provided through a coordinated pathway between Mr Dipesh Patel, our Consultant Oral Surgeon who places the implants, and Mr Vijayakumar, who designs and fits the bridge restoration on top. This integrated approach ensures that the implant position and the bridge design are planned together from the outset.

The material chosen for your bridge depends on its location in the mouth, the forces it will be subjected to, and your aesthetic preferences.

• Porcelain (ceramic) — the most natural-looking option, matched to the shade of your surrounding teeth. Modern ceramics including zirconia are highly strong and are now routinely used for bridges in biting areas as well as at the front.
• Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) — a ceramic outer layer bonded to a metal substructure. This combination offers good aesthetics with reliable strength and has been used successfully for many decades.
• Metal alloys — gold and other precious or non-precious metal alloys are extremely durable and are sometimes preferred for bridges in non-visible areas where longevity under heavy biting forces is the primary concern.

Your dentist will discuss which material is most appropriate for your specific situation, taking into account the position of the missing tooth, the condition of the supporting teeth, and your long-term goals.

A bridge is typically made over two appointments, usually two weeks apart.

At the first appointment, the supporting tooth or teeth are prepared — a small amount of tooth structure is removed to accommodate the crown that will anchor the bridge. A detailed impression or digital scan of your teeth is taken, and a colour match is recorded so the bridge can be made to blend naturally with your surrounding teeth. A temporary bridge is fitted to protect the prepared teeth while the final restoration is being made by our dental laboratory.

At the second appointment, the temporary bridge is removed and the final bridge is fitted. You will have the opportunity to assess the appearance and bite before we cement it permanently. Once you are happy, the bridge is fixed in place — and you leave with a complete, natural-looking smile.

A dental bridge relies entirely on the health and structural integrity of the teeth or implants supporting it. Placing a bridge onto teeth or gums that are compromised will shorten its lifespan and risk failure. At Conway House, we always address underlying issues before bridge treatment begins.

• Gum disease — active periodontal disease causes bone loss around the supporting teeth and beneath the pontic area, which directly threatens the stability of a bridge. Where gum disease is present, Dr Mital Patel, our Specialist in Periodontics, stabilises the condition before bridge placement — and monitors gum health around the bridge in the long term.
• Root canal treatment — supporting teeth that have infected or compromised pulps may require root canal treatment before they can safely have a crown placed on top. Where this is needed, our clinician with a practice limited to endodontics manages this in-house, so the sequence from endodontic treatment to bridge placement is coordinated without disruption.
• Tooth extraction — where a failing tooth needs to be removed before the space can be bridged, Mr Dipesh Patel, our Consultant Oral Surgeon, manages this in-house. Coordination between the extraction and the bridge planning ensures optimal tissue healing and the best possible outcome for the final restoration.

If we identify any concerns during your assessment, we will always explain your options clearly and will not begin bridge preparation until the conditions are right for long-term success.

For straightforward bridges, your general dentist at Conway House will manage the full process. For more complex cases, our in-house specialist team is available without the need for referral elsewhere.

• Restorative Dentistry (Mr Ashok Vijayakumar) — specialist involvement is particularly valuable for multi-unit bridges, implant-supported bridges, cases where the supporting teeth have been heavily restored, and situations where the bridge must integrate with a wider restorative or cosmetic plan. Mr Vijayakumar brings both the technical precision and the aesthetic judgement to deliver a result that looks, feels, and functions correctly for the long term.
• Periodontics (Dr Mital Patel) — gum health around a bridge is critical. The pontic (false tooth) sits just above the gum, and if the gum recedes or periodontal disease develops around the supporting teeth, the appearance and stability of the bridge can both be affected. Dr Patel’s involvement ensures the periodontal environment is healthy before the bridge is placed and remains so throughout its life.
• Oral Surgery (Mr Dipesh Patel) — for patients requiring implant-supported bridges, Mr Patel places the implants with the final bridge design already planned. For patients needing extractions before bridgework, he manages this in-house. This continuity of care between surgical and restorative stages avoids the gaps and delays that arise when multiple providers are involved.