Bridges

Dental Bridge Procedure

A dental bridge is a permanent appliance that replaces a missing tooth or missing teeth. It’s made up of several pieces that are fused together to fit into the open space where your tooth or teeth used to be.

Dental bridges are an alternative to partial dentures. They serve both practical and aesthetic purposes, enabling you to eat and speak better as well as restoring your teeth’s appearance.

The bridge may be made of several different types of material, including gold, alloys, or porcelain. When replacing a front tooth, porcelain is most often the material of choice because it can be matched to your natural tooth color.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Any questions or doubts you might have, please feel free to schedule an exam with our General Practitioner.

Types of Dental Bridges

The artificial teeth used in dental bridges are called pontics. You'll have a pontic for each missing tooth, created to be close in shape and size to the missing one(s). Pontics are anchored to a tooth or teeth next to the gap (called abutment teeth) or to a dental implant.

The four primary types of bridges include:

Traditional fixed bridge: This is the most common type of bridge. It includes a crown on either side of the pontic(s). Maryland dental bridge or resin-bonded bridge: This is often used to replace front teeth. Instead of crowns, it uses porcelain or metal frameworks with "wings" that are bonded to the back of your teeth on either side of the gap. Implant-supported bridge: An implant for each missing tooth is surgically embedded into your jawbone in one procedure. The bridge, which contains the pontics, is placed over them in a later procedure. Cantilever bridge: This one is no longer commonly used. When only one side of the gap contains a natural tooth, the pontic(s) are anchored by a single crown on that natural tooth.

Disadvantages of Dental Bridges

Dental bridges do have some disadvantages, as well, such as: Future damage to the abutment teeth can compromise the bridge. If the crowns are ill-fitting, bacteria and plaque may get inside and cause tooth decay. The crowns may change the structure of your teeth, affecting your bite. If the abutment teeth aren't strong enough to support the bridge, the bridge could collapse. The abutment teeth may be weakened by the procedure(s) and have to be replaced by dental implants.

Advantages of Dental Bridges

Dental bridges can provide many benefits, including: Restoring a natural look to your mouth/smile Restoring the ability to speak normally, as missing teeth can impede proper enunciation Maintaining normal facial structure by preventing bone loss from the jaw at the site of the missing tooth/teeth Restoring the ability to chew food efficiently Preventing adjacent teeth from moving into the empty space, which can cause problems with your bite and lead to other complications.

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