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What is a temporary bridge, and how long does it last?

The middle step on the conventional route: not being left with a gap while the impression is at the laboratory

With a conventional fixed bridge the teeth are cut down, impressions are taken and the impressions go to the laboratory. In the meantime the teeth that have been cut down must not be left exposed; what fills that gap is a temporary bridge. Below is what it does, why it breaks so easily, how it is looked after, and why it never comes up at all in our own protocol.

Short answer

A temporary bridge is a resin-based interim restoration fitted over the teeth that have been cut down while the real bridge is made at the laboratory. Its job is to keep your appearance and your chewing going, to protect the prepared teeth and their pulps from outside influences, to stop the teeth moving and to shape the gum. It is not designed to last a long time; it is worn for a short period over the course of the prosthetic treatment.

What it does: Protects the prepared tooth and keeps appearance and chewing going
How long it is worn: A short period over the prosthetic treatment; longer in complex cases
What it is made of: Acrylic and composite-based resins, milled or printed blocks
In our protocol: There is none: the teeth fitted on day 3 are the final teeth

Where a temporary bridge sits on the conventional route

A conventional fixed bridge is work that finishes in two appointments. At the first, the teeth that will support the bridge are shaped, an impression or a digital scan is taken and sent to the laboratory; at the second, the bridge that comes back is tried in and cemented in place. The gap in between can be a few weeks, and during that time the teeth that have been cut down are left bare. A temporary bridge exists for exactly that gap.

The job of an interim restoration comes under five headings, and none of them is decoration. The first is protection: it protects the prepared tooth tissue and the pulp inside it from irritation and from the swings of hot and cold in the mouth, and it protects the cheek and the tongue from sharp edges. The second is chewing. The third is keeping things in position: it stops the prepared tooth and the tooth opposite it moving, and stops the bite being upset. The fourth is appearance. The fifth is gathering information: the shape, the length and the bite of the bridge have been tried out in the mouth before the real bridge is made.

All five of these headings hang on one technical detail: the fit of the margin. If the edge where the temporary bridge meets the gum does not seal, bacteria get underneath it, the prepared tooth surface is left exposed and within a few days the gum goes red and starts to bleed. A badly seated temporary is not just uncomfortable; it also spoils the shape of the gum the real bridge will sit against.

The materials side explains why a temporary bridge breaks so easily. These restorations are classically made from methacrylate resins mixed from a powder and a liquid, or from composite-based materials made by mixing two pastes; modern methods use milled PMMA blocks and resins printed on a three-dimensional printer. Reviews of the field note that in parafunctions such as clenching, and in certain anatomical situations, the mechanical behaviour of PMMA-based materials is not impressive and can lead to cracks and fractures, that polymerisation shrinkage is high in the classical acrylic resins shaped in the mouth, that PMMA is open to breaking down in contact with water, and that its surface is prone to holding bacteria. The same sources find its wear resistance, its colour stability and its marginal fit to be good.

The same publications draw attention to one further point: monomers that have not fully polymerised can be released into the mouth and can set off an inflammatory response in the neighbouring tissues. That does not mean a temporary bridge is dangerous; it means it is designed for short-term use. Indeed, the same sources write that patients wear interim restorations for a short period over the course of the prosthetic treatment, and that in complex rehabilitations of the mouth this period can stretch.

Looking after it changes with that fragility as well. Floss cannot be pulled up and out from under the body of the bridge; it is taken out sideways, or you work with floss made for under a bridge, with a thickened end, and with interdental brushes. Hard-shelled foods, sticky sweets and ice are the most common reason a temporary comes away. And if cleaning is neglected in the connecting areas between the supporting teeth, decay can start before the real bridge is ever fitted.

Everything here describes the conventional route. In the protocol we use there is no such stage: on day 1 a CBCT scan is taken, the plan is reassessed, the implants are placed, a digital impression is taken and the first try-in teeth are fitted within a few hours; on day 2 the try-ins, the bite, the appearance, the speech and the final shade are worked on; on day 3 the final teeth are fixed in place. At the end of day 3 the teeth in your mouth are final; they are not taken off months later and replaced with another bridge, and no second trip is planned. The interim solutions this page describes are part of the conventional route, not of our protocol.

Who needs a temporary bridge, and who does not

The distinction below decides whether an interim restoration will feature in your plan. The ones in the first list are the situations where this middle step really is needed.

When it fits

If a conventional fixed bridge is being madeFrom the moment the supporting teeth are shaped until the real bridge is cemented, the prepared teeth have to be protected. This is the undisputed field of use for an interim restoration.
If a tooth at the front has been preparedWalking around with cut-down tooth stumps in an area that shows brings daily life to a halt. At the front, speech, lip support and the smile line are also tried out on the temporary; the real bridge is made with the information that comes out of that trial.
If the bite or the shape of the gum is to be changedIn plans where the height of the bite is changed or the gum line is to be reshaped, the interim restoration is a way of trying things out. The patient tests the new bite and the new shape by wearing it, and if there is a problem it is put right before the real bridge is made.
If the laboratory process is going to take longerDetailed aesthetic work, repeating the choice of shade, or planning several areas together all lengthen the process. In that case a more durable, milled temporary may be preferred.

When it doesn't

In our three-clinical-day protocolThere is no temporary bridge stage in this protocol. The try-in teeth fitted on day 1 are not an interim solution but a try-in of the final teeth that will be fixed on day 3; the teeth fitted at the end of day 3 are the final ones. That is why the question "when will you change my temporary?" is never asked in our plan.
Where the restoration is finished at the same appointmentIn workflows where the mouth is scanned and the restoration is milled the same day, no interim restoration comes in between. This method does not suit every case, but where it does, the temporary stage disappears entirely.
If the teeth that will act as supports are already weakA temporary bridge does not improve poor foundations. If the supporting teeth have advanced bone loss, a root fracture or recurring decay, what needs discussing is not the temporary but the bridge plan itself.
If there is active inflammation in the areaSeating a temporary bridge over a prepared tooth while gum inflammation or an infection at the root tip is still going on hides the picture. The inflammation is treated first; the fit of the margin can only be judged against healthy gum.

How a temporary bridge is made

The sequence below is the flow followed most often in clinics. None of the steps can be skipped; when one is, the price is paid not on the temporary but on the real bridge.

1
An impression is taken before the teeth are cut down
The shape of the temporary is copied from how your teeth were before they were prepared. Either an impression is taken before the preparation and a silicone mould made from it, or the design is made from a digital scan. If this step is skipped, the temporary resembles not your own tooth but an average shape.
2
The supporting teeth are prepared
The teeth the bridge will sit on are reduced by enough to carry the thickness of the material. After the preparation the outer layer of the tooth has been thinned; the protective job of the temporary bridge begins at exactly that moment.
3
The temporary bridge is shaped in the mouth, or milled
In the classical method the mould is filled with resin and seated in the mouth, and once the material has set it is taken out and trimmed. In the digital method the temporary that has been designed is milled from a PMMA block or printed on a printer; temporaries made this way usually have a smoother surface.
4
The fit of the margin and the bite are adjusted
The edge where the temporary meets the gum is polished and any excess is cleaned away; the bite is checked with articulating paper and the high spots are taken down. A temporary left high both makes the supporting tooth sensitive and breaks the material before long.
5
It is fixed with a temporary cement
The cement used is deliberately kept weak, because the bridge has to come off without damaging the tooth when the real bridge arrives. That is also why a temporary can come away by itself from time to time.
6
When the real bridge arrives, the temporary comes off and the bridge is tried in
The temporary is taken off, the prepared teeth are cleaned, and the real bridge is first tried in, with the bite and the shade checked, before it is fitted. Ask your dentist these questions: how many weeks will the temporary stay on, which cement will it be fixed with, where does its edge finish in relation to the gum margin, and how am I to clean under the body of the bridge?

Interim options, and our own route

The options below meet the same need in different ways. The last one describes the workflow in which that need never arises.

The classical temporary shaped in the mouth

The most widespread method. It is quick, it is cheap and it can be done at any clinic; in return its surface is rougher and its strength lower. It is enough for short-term use.

A milled or printed temporary

It is produced by milling a PMMA block from a digital design, or by printing it on a three-dimensional printer. Its surface is smoother, it stands up better to breaking, and it is preferred in cases where the process is known to be a long one.

A removable single-tooth or partial denture

Where the supporting teeth are not being prepared and only the gap has to be filled, a removable plate can be used. It is not as comfortable as a fixed bridge, but it calls for nothing to be done to the neighbouring tooth.

A bridge bonded with a wing

A type of bridge that holds on to the back of the neighbouring tooth with a thin metal or ceramic wing and needs very little to be taken off the tooth. It is used as an interim solution particularly for single-tooth gaps.

The Implant72 protocol: no interim stage

In our workflow, day 1 is the CBCT scan, the review of the plan, the implants, the digital impression and, within a few hours, the first try-in teeth; day 2 is the try-ins, the bite, speech, appearance and the final shade; day 3 is the fixing of the final teeth. The teeth fitted at the end of day 3 are the final ones. If you have a panoramic X-ray or a CBCT scan, send it through the form; the dentist who will carry out the treatment reads the image, and we write to you within 24 hours. This is a preliminary assessment; the final decision is made after an examination and a CBCT scan. For a single-tooth gap you do not need this protocol; make that decision with your own dentist.

Problems often met with a temporary bridge

We set these out so that you can ask the right questions, whichever dentist you go to. If a dentist does not explain them unprompted, ask.

A temporary whose margin does not seal inflames the gum

Bacteria building up under an ill-fitting margin turn the gum red and make it bleed within a few days. Because the final checks taken against a swollen gum are not reliable, the margin of the real bridge can end up in the wrong place too. If bleeding starts when you brush, do not leave it.

Breaking and coming off

Temporary bridges are resin-based and their mechanical strength is limited; reviews of the field note that cracks and fractures are seen in these materials. Hard-shelled foods, ice, sticky sweets and biting things off with that part of the mouth are the most common reasons for one coming away.

Trying to stick it back on at home

Putting a temporary that has come off back on with household glue, or with some product picked up at the chemist, both damages the prepared tooth and spoils the way it seats. Keep the bridge and ring the clinic; prepared teeth should not be left exposed for long.

Wearing the temporary for longer than planned

These materials are open to breaking down in contact with water; their surfaces change colour over time and start to hold plaque. If the real bridge is delayed, renewing the temporary, or replacing it with a more durable one, needs discussing.

Taking the temporary for the final result

The colour, the surface gloss and the shape of a temporary bridge do not represent the final result. If there is a detail you do not like, say so before the real bridge is made; a correction at the temporary stage is easy, and on a cemented bridge it is hard.

The time spent with a temporary bridge

The sequence below describes what to expect once a temporary bridge has been fitted. Nothing that bothers you is left with "you will get used to it".

The first days
Some sensitivity to hot and cold in the prepared teeth is normal and eases as the days pass. Whether the temporary is sitting high becomes clear within the first day; if you feel pressure at a single point when you bite, it needs adjusting.
The first weeks
The gum margin settles around the shape of the temporary during this period. Against a margin that is cleaned regularly the gum stays pink and firm; bleeding, redness or a smell is a sign that something does not fit.
When the real bridge is fitted
The temporary comes off, the prepared teeth are cleaned and the real bridge is tried in and fitted. The bite, the contact points and the shade are checked for the last time at this appointment; the feel of the bite settles within a few days.
Afterwards
From then on the care is about the bridge itself: under its body is cleaned every day, and the gum margin of the supporting teeth is not neglected. What decides how long the bridge lasts is not its material but how healthy the supporting teeth stay.

Don't wait if

If the temporary bridge has come off or broken. Keep the pieces and ring the clinic. Prepared teeth left exposed for long mean both sensitivity and a risk of the teeth moving; do not try to stick it back on at home.
If the gum is bleeding, red or smells. This shows that either the fit of the margin or the cleaning is not good enough, and it affects the foundation the real bridge will sit on. Report it without waiting for an appointment.
If you feel pressure at a single point when you bite. A temporary left high causes pain in the supporting tooth and breaks the material before long. The adjustment is a few minutes' work.
If the real bridge is much later than expected. Wearing the temporary for longer than planned means the surface breaking down and plaque building up. Ask whether the temporary needs renewing.

What determines the cost

We do not give a single figure on this page. A temporary bridge is usually included within the bridge plan and does not appear as a separate item; what decides how much of a place it takes is this:

How many supports and how many gaps: The temporary for a three-unit bridge over a single gap and the temporary for a plan covering several areas are not the same amount of work.
How it is made: The classical temporary shaped in the mouth and a temporary milled or printed from a digital design are different processes; the second is more durable, but in return it means more laboratory and equipment work.
How long it is worn: A wait of a few weeks and a process spread over months in a complex rehabilitation do not call for the same temporary. With long use, renewing the temporary can come onto the agenda.
The preparatory work: If the supporting teeth need root canal treatment, a post or reshaping of the gum, the plan grows. Ask in writing from the outset for the brand of the material to be used and for the scope.

Frequently asked questions

What is a temporary bridge?

A resin-based interim restoration fitted over teeth that have been cut down while the real bridge is made at the laboratory. Its job is to protect the prepared tooth and its pulp, to keep chewing and appearance going, to stop the teeth moving and to shape the gum. It also means the shape of the real bridge has been tried out on this temporary.

How long does a temporary dental bridge last?

It is not designed to last a long time. Reviews of the field note that patients wear interim restorations for a short period over the course of the prosthetic treatment, and that in complex rehabilitations of the mouth this period can stretch. If it is going to be worn for longer, a more durable, milled temporary is preferred, or the temporary is renewed.

Can I eat normally with a temporary bridge?

With most foods, yes, but some are off the list: hard-shelled foods, ice, sticky sweets and biting things off with that part of the mouth. The mechanical strength of these resin-based materials is limited, and cracks and fractures do happen. Moving your chewing over to the other side as far as you can will make life easier.

My temporary bridge has come off: what should I do?

Keep the piece and ring the clinic. Remember that the temporary cement is deliberately kept weak; it coming off is usually not a fault. Do not try to put it back with household glue or with some product picked at random: it damages the prepared tooth and spoils the way it seats. Prepared teeth should not be left exposed for long.

Why is my temporary bridge making my gum sore?

The most common reason is the fit of the margin. If the edge that meets the gum does not seal, or if excess has been left, bacteria build up underneath and the gum goes red and bleeds. The second reason is a bite left high. Both are solved by adjustment, and neither can wait, because both affect the shape of the gum the real bridge will sit against.

Are a temporary denture and a temporary bridge the same thing?

No. A temporary bridge is fixed: it is cemented over prepared supporting teeth and you cannot take it out yourself. A temporary denture sits on a removable plate, holds on to the neighbouring teeth and is usually taken out at night. Which one is right is decided by whether the supporting teeth have been prepared.

Are the teeth fitted in 72 hours temporary?

No. In the protocol we use, the teeth fixed at the end of day 3 are the final teeth; they are not taken off months later and replaced with another bridge, and no second trip is planned. The try-in teeth fitted on day 1 are not an interim solution but a try-in of the final teeth. The temporary bridges this page describes are a step on the conventional route.

Is a temporary bridge charged for separately?

At most clinics it is included within the bridge plan and does not appear as a separate item. Even so, before treatment starts, ask your written plan how the temporary will be made, how many weeks it will be worn, and whether renewing it if there is a delay falls outside the scope.

Sources

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