If you’ve lost a tooth and leave the empty space untreated, nearby teeth can shift into gaps left behind. The result can be issued with your bite, difficulty chewing, pain, infections, and crooked and/or misaligned teeth. Dental bridges may be recommended for those that have lost a tooth because of decay, disease, injury, or genetics. They are often the preferred alternative to a partial denture, as they don’t require a high level of day-to-day maintenance and don’t move. A dental bridge can help to correct bite problems, alleviate issues with chewing, prevent teeth from shifting, improve your speech, and restore the shape of your face and smile. However, to be considered for a dental bridge, you must have healthy teeth on either side of your gap as these remaining teeth are what provide the support for the bridge apparatus.