What Is a Dental Bridge?

Missing teeth can cost you your smile, lower your self-esteem, and impair your daily abilities. The good news is that various ways can restore that teeth and your confidence. One such way is the use of dental bridges. These orthodontic solutions bridge the gap the missing teeth create and are also an alternative to partial dentures.

 

They serve both aesthetic and practical purposes. They will improve your speech, enable you to eat, and restore the appearance of your teeth. You can pick your material of choice. However, the best alternative is to use porcelain since it can have the closest match to your natural teeth.

Types of Dental Bridges

There are various kinds of dental bridges. Each has a pontic or artificial tooth, which is close in shape and size to the missing tooth. They anchor to abutment teeth or dental implants for support.

 

The four primary types of dental bridges are:

 

• Traditional fixed dental bridges

• Resin-bonded or Maryland dental bridge

• Implant-supported dental bridge

• Cantilever dental bridge
  
   

Traditional Fixed Dental Bridge

The traditional fixed dental bridge consists of a pontic or pontics. These connect and have abutment teeth to hold them in place. They are the most common type of dental bridge. They work best when you have natural teeth on either side of the gap or a missing tooth.

 

These natural teeth will act as anchors or abutment teeth for the bridge. The dentist adds dental crowns, consisting of different materials that include porcelain, ceramics, or metal, to these natural teeth. Thus, they provide anchorage for the dental bridge.

Resin-Bonded or Maryland Dental Bridge

This bridge is similar to a traditional fixed dental bridge. However, two common characteristics distinguish it from the usual dental bridge. Firstly, the type of bridge is suitable for replacing missing front teeth. It is better for these than the traditional bridge. Secondly, it uses two natural teeth as anchors.

 

However, the traditional bridge puts dental crowns on these teeth. The resin-bonded or Maryland dental bridge uses a framework of porcelain that fuses to metal or ceramic as wings. The material bonds to the back of the natural teeth on either side of the gap and provide support.

Implant-Supported Dental Bridge

As the name suggests, the bridge consists of dental implants. These act as the support system for the framework. Hence, the installation begins with the procedure of placing dental implants. There can be one for every missing tooth, or there may be some teeth that will have pontics as replacements. It depends on which system is stronger than the other.

They are the most stable of all dental bridges, but they may also take a couple of months to install the bridge because of the procedures.

Cantilever Dental Bridge

The dental bridge is also like the traditional bridge. However, the pontic only needs to connect to one natural tooth for support. It is a viable option for people with only one natural tooth on one side of the gap. They are not a usual sight as they are not stable. Thus, dentists will not use them to replace missing teeth in the back of your mouth.

For more information on dental bridges or to see if you’re a candidate, schedule an appointment with Clarity Dental Center for Implant and Family Dentistry at our Federal Way, Washington office. Call (253) 799-1490 today.