A posterior bridge replaces one or more missing back teeth by anchoring replacement teeth to the natural teeth on either side of the gap. Back teeth carry far greater biting forces than front teeth, so these bridges are engineered for strength and durability above all.
Why replacing back teeth matters
A gap at the back of the mouth is easy to ignore because it does not show. The consequences are still real. Teeth drift toward an empty space, so the tooth behind the gap tips forward and the tooth opposite it over-erupts, gradually unsettling your bite. Chewing shifts onto the other side, which can overload those teeth and strain the jaw joint. Replacing the tooth keeps your bite stable.
What to expect
Your dentist at Parkway Dental numbs and prepares the supporting teeth for crowns, then takes an impression or digital scan of the prepared teeth, the gap and your bite. Getting the bite right is critical here, because these teeth do the heavy work of chewing. A temporary bridge protects the prepared teeth while the permanent one is fabricated. At the second visit the bridge is checked for fit and contacts, the bite is refined, and it is cemented.
Afterwards
Chewing usually feels natural within a few days. Some tenderness in the supporting teeth for a week or two is normal after preparation.
As with any bridge, the units are joined, so ordinary floss cannot pass between them. Cleaning beneath the replacement tooth daily with a floss threader, superfloss or interdental brush is essential — decay in a supporting tooth is the most common reason a bridge eventually needs replacing. If you grind your teeth, a night guard will meaningfully extend the life of the bridge.