Temporary dental bridge in Turkey: what it is and why it is fitted
A temporary dental bridge is a short-term replacement for one or more missing teeth, fitted while the permanent bridge is being made or while an implant heals. It is usually made of acrylic or composite resin and attaches to the teeth on each side of the gap, which have been shaped (prepared) to receive the final bridge. Its job is to protect those prepared teeth, which would otherwise be sensitive and could drift, to keep the gap closed and the gum healthy, to let you chew and speak, and to give you a natural-looking smile while the laboratory works. Dental clinics in Turkey fit temporary bridges as a routine part of bridge and crown treatment, often on the same day the teeth are prepared.
This guide explains how a temporary bridge works, which types exist, how long it can stay in the mouth, how to eat and clean with it, what it costs in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany, and what to ask a clinic. For the wider range of dental care see our dental treatments in Turkey overview.
When do you need a temporary bridge?
You are given one whenever teeth have been prepared for a permanent bridge, because bare, filed-down teeth would be exposed and sensitive. In other situations it can also be used:
- while a laboratory makes a zirconia, porcelain or metal-ceramic bridge, normally for a few days to two weeks;
- after an extraction, while the gum heals before a final bridge or an implant;
- during implant healing, when the gap must be covered for several months;
- to test the shape, bite and appearance of the future bridge before the final one is made;
- as an emergency stop-gap if a tooth is lost or broken and the final treatment cannot be done at once.
It is not designed to be a long-term solution. It is lighter and weaker than the final bridge, and it is held with temporary cement so that the dentist can remove it.
How is a temporary bridge made and fitted?
The process fits into the preparation visit for the final bridge. Before preparing the teeth, the dentist takes an impression or digital scan, or makes a mould of the gap. After the supporting teeth are shaped under local anaesthesia, the temporary is made in one of two ways. A chairside bridge is shaped from resin in the mouth or in a prepared template and polished in under an hour. A laboratory-made or milled temporary, printed or cut from a resin block, takes longer but is stronger and more precise, and is often chosen for longer waits or for a full smile makeover. The bridge is trimmed, checked for bite and colour, and cemented with temporary cement. The dentist then shows you how to clean under it.
Which types of temporary bridge are there?
The material and design depend on how long it has to last and which teeth it replaces. A resin chairside bridge is the simplest. A reinforced resin or milled bridge lasts longer. A resin-bonded temporary, which is glued to the back of neighbouring teeth with little or no preparation, can be used in the front of the mouth. In some cases a removable partial denture or an immediate "flipper" tooth replaces the bridge, which is lighter but less stable. Where the neighbouring teeth are crowned as part of the same plan, a temporary crown is fitted on each one, and the missing tooth is joined between them.
Temporary bridge, temporary crown, denture or permanent bridge: how do they compare?
A temporary bridge is only the first stage. The final result is a permanent bridge or an implant, described in our guides to dental bridge installation and dental implants.
| Option | Suits | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary bridge | Covering a gap and prepared teeth for days to months | Weaker; can loosen or stain; not for long-term use |
| Temporary crown | Protecting a single prepared tooth | Does not replace a missing tooth |
| Removable partial denture | Short- or long-term gap with no preparation | Less stable; can feel bulky |
| Permanent bridge | Long-term replacement fixed to neighbouring teeth | Requires shaping of healthy teeth |
If the final plan is a bridge made of zirconia, see our guide to the zirconia dental bridge, which explains why this material is popular for the permanent stage.
How long can you wear a temporary dental bridge?
A resin temporary is designed for a few days to a few weeks, and a reinforced or milled one can serve for several months if cared for. In a standard bridge treatment in Turkey, the permanent bridge is often ready within about five to ten days, so the temporary is worn for a week or so. If an implant is being placed and allowed to heal, the temporary may be worn for three to six months, and the dentist will check and reline it. The longer it stays, the greater the risk of cracks, staining, loosened cement, gum irritation or decay under the edges. A temporary that has become loose or broken should be repaired promptly and not ignored.
Temporary dental bridge cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The figures below are approximate ranges for a three-unit temporary bridge, not clinic quotes. In many clinics the temporary is included in the price of the permanent bridge. Each clinic confirms its own price in writing.
| Country | Approximate cost range |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €60 – €350 |
| United Kingdom | €200 – €700 |
| United States | €300 – €1,200 |
| Germany | €150 – €600 |
What changes the temporary dental bridge price: the number of units, the material (chairside resin or a laboratory-made or milled bridge), the length of time it must last, whether it is part of a larger treatment such as an implant plan or a full smile makeover, and whether repairs are covered. A written quote should say whether the temporary is included in the final bridge price, and what happens if it breaks.
Who needs one, and who should be careful?
Anyone whose teeth are being prepared for a bridge or whose gap needs protecting needs a temporary. Take extra care if you grind your teeth, since a resin bridge can crack, if you have gum disease, which makes cleaning under the bridge harder, or if you have dental anxiety and are tempted to skip follow-up. If you have an allergy to acrylic or to a specific resin, tell the dentist. A person who has had a front tooth extracted often worries about being without a tooth, and a temporary is the usual answer.
What does a temporary bridge feel like, and how do you look after it?
It can feel slightly bulky, a little higher or less polished than your own teeth, and your tongue will notice it. The prepared teeth under it may be sensitive to hot and cold for a few days. Good care keeps it in place:
- Avoid sticky, chewy or very hard foods such as toffee, nuts, crusty bread and ice.
- Chew on the other side where possible for the first few days.
- Brush gently twice daily and clean under the bridge with a floss threader or an interdental brush; do not pull floss upwards, as this can lift the bridge off.
- Limit staining drinks such as coffee, tea and red wine, since resin picks up colour more easily than porcelain.
- Call the clinic if the bridge comes off, cracks or feels loose; if you cannot see a dentist, you can use a dental repair cement from a pharmacy as a stop-gap, and keep the bridge safe.
If a temporary comes off and the teeth are left bare, they can become sensitive, and they can also move. Do not leave the gap uncovered.
Will a temporary bridge look natural?
A temporary is made to look reasonable, but it is not meant to match the final result. The colour and shape are approximate, and the surface may be less polished. In a smile makeover it can serve as a preview: you can see the shape and length of the planned teeth, and the dentist can change it before the final bridge is made. Ask your dentist to explain which features can be altered and which will change only in the final bridge. Photographs of other patients' temporaries are rarely helpful, because they differ so much with the material and the clinic.
What are the risks of a temporary bridge?
Risks are mostly minor but worth knowing: the bridge can loosen or come off, crack or wear, stain, and irritate the gum if the edges are rough. Sensitivity of the prepared teeth is common, and decay or gum inflammation can develop under a temporary that has been left too long or poorly cleaned. Teeth may shift if there is no bridge in place. A poor fit can affect the bite and cause jaw discomfort. The NHS and the British Dental Association explain these points in their patient information on bridges, and your dentist should tell you how long yours is intended to last.
How to choose a clinic, and the questions to ask
Check that the dentist is licensed in Turkey, that the clinic has an on-site laboratory or works with an established one, that the plan states how long the temporary must last, and that you receive a written quote before you pay. Red flags are a treatment plan with no mention of a temporary, a plan that leaves prepared teeth bare, and no clinic contact if the bridge fails once you are home. Questions to ask:
- How long will I wear the temporary, and when will the permanent bridge be ready?
- What material is it, and what happens if it breaks?
- Is it included in the price of the permanent bridge?
- Can I have a spare temporary or a repair at no extra cost?
- How will you check my healing before the final bridge is fitted?
Read how our process works and send your X-rays through our free quote page so that a clinic can reply with a written plan.
Hospitals with Dental Treatments in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
It is a short-term resin bridge that covers a gap and protects teeth prepared for a permanent bridge, or that holds the space while an implant or the gum heals. It is cemented with temporary cement so the dentist can remove it.
A resin temporary is made for days to weeks, and a reinforced or milled one can last several months with care. In a standard bridge treatment, it is worn for about a week until the permanent bridge is ready.
Approximate ranges are €60 to €350 for a three-unit temporary in Turkey, against about €200 to €700 in the UK. Many clinics include it in the price of the permanent bridge, and confirm this in writing.
You can eat soft and normal foods, but avoid sticky, chewy or very hard foods such as toffee, nuts and crusty bread. Chew on the other side for the first few days, since a temporary is weaker than the final bridge.
Keep it safe and contact the clinic at once. Do not leave the prepared teeth bare. A pharmacy dental repair cement can hold it briefly as a stop-gap, but the dentist should re-cement it and check the fit.
It should not. The teeth under it may be sensitive to hot and cold for a few days, and the gum can feel tender. Pain that increases, or a bite that feels high, should be reported to the dentist.
It is made to look reasonable, but the shade, shape and polish are approximate. In a smile makeover it can preview the planned shape, and the dentist can adjust it before the final bridge is made.
A temporary is resin, lighter and cemented loosely for short-term use. A permanent bridge is made in the laboratory from zirconia, porcelain or metal-ceramic, and fixed firmly with permanent cement, with a better fit and appearance.
No. Left too long, it can crack, stain, loosen, irritate the gum or allow decay under its edges. If your final treatment is delayed, ask the dentist to check it and replace it with a stronger temporary.
A standard bridge treatment usually takes about five to ten days, with the temporary worn while the laboratory makes the final bridge. If an implant is planned, the permanent stage may need a second visit months later.