Getting a dental bridge is a pretty minor thing to go through in comparison to other, more invasive methods of dental care, like getting a dental implant. But if you've never gotten a bridge before, you still might be nervous. The best way to get over that is to know what you're getting into, so here's how you can expect the process of getting a bridge to go.

Examination

The first thing that will happen is that you and your dentist will have a talk about what you're looking for. From there, your dentist will examine your mouth to determine if you're in good health and to see if you're a good candidate for a dental bridge. Providing that you have some remaining, healthy teeth, you'll likely be a good candidate.

This is also where your dentist will order your old dental scans or x-rays to see what your teeth looked like when they were still there. They'll likely also take some measurements of your teeth and the gap between them.

Crowns

From there, the first thing that you'll need is dental crowns. This is done even if your teeth are in good shape. At one time, dental bridges were put on without crowns, but it caused too much strain on the teeth supporting the bridge. So nowadays, crowns are used to give your teeth a protective buffer. The crown takes the brunt of the force, while your teeth remain protected.

Since you don't have a damaged tooth right now, you won't need temporary crowns. Instead, your dentist will order permanent crowns and call you in when they're ready. Dental crowns are simply applied to clean teeth with dental adhesive. There's nothing invasive and no need for numbing.

Bridge

Next up is the bridge. Like your crowns, your dentist will wait until your bridge has been delivered.

With the bridge in hand, your dentist will go to work connecting it to both of your newly crowned teeth. While you might feel some pressure as the bridge is tightened and put in place, you shouldn't expect any pain or even discomfort. The bridge will be secured on both sides and then you'll be asked what you think. Bite down, chew on something if you can, and take a look in a mirror. It may feel a little odd at first, but as the days go by you'll get accustomed to your new teeth (bridge) and it should feel completely natural.