Dental Bridges

Dental bridges are a commonly used type of restoration for replacing missing teeth, regardless of if they have been extracted because of structural damage or severe decay, or have fallen out. As its name suggests, a dental bridge bridges the gap caused by missing teeth. Anchors for the bridge are found on each side of the gap, and the middle gap can be filled with a false tooth. After placement, dental bridges offer the patient a very nice and natural appearance.

Good Candidates

To decide if a dental bridge makes sense for you, you will need to take part in a consultation with your dentist who will perform an oral examination of the proposed treatment area.

If it is determined that a dental bridge would be an appropriate solution for your needs, your dentist will help you select one of four types, depending upon your individual situation.

The four types of dental bridges are:

Conventional dental bridge
Cantilever dental bridge
Maryland dental bridge
Implant-supported dental bridge

Conventional Dental Bridge

This type consists of one dental crown connected to surrounding teeth with a false tooth or tooth in the middle. The anchor points are provided by the dental crowns, while the false tooth will be bridging the gap.

Traditional dental bridges are strong, but one drawback is that some modification would be required of the adjacent teeth.

Cantilever Dental Bridge

This type of bridge only involves the use of one anchor tooth. Cantilever bridges are used less frequently than other types of bridges and must be placed near the front of the mouth. They do not make a good choice for the back of the mouth, since this placement would involve too much stress on a single tooth.

When a Cantilever bridge makes good sense for the patient, it can save time and money for them. Unfortunately, it is fairly rare for this type of dental bridge to be able to be placed safely.

Maryland Dental Bridge

A Maryland dental bridge is much like a conventional dental bridge; however, instead of the anchors being dental crowns, a porcelain or metal framework is used. Using the framework means that adjacent teeth do not need to be modified.

Maryland bridges offer a more affordable and conservative option to conventional bridges. One drawback is that the metal frameworks and adhesive used with this type of bridge can lead to tooth staining.

Implant-Supported Dental Bridge

Implant-supported bridges are similar to conventional bridges in terms of structure. The main difference is that dental implants are used to anchor them into place. This means that this option can be used to bridge large gaps due to multiple missing teeth.

A key advantage of implant-supported bridges is that the implants are firmly anchored within the jawbone, offering a restoration of normal function and added strength and durability.

Learn More

Schedule a dental bridge consultation today! Our team of experts are readily available to assist you and answer any questions you may have. New patients are welcome!