What Is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is a permanent, fixed device that replaces missing teeth. The artificial teeth in the bridge will fill the gap in your smile. Bridges can be anchored by your own natural teeth, on implants, or on a combination of both. You cannot take it out of your mouth without professional help. There are different types of bridges, and we will recommend the most appropriate appliance for you, depending on the location of the missing tooth and the condition of your oral health.
Traditional bridge
Traditional dental bridges are made of two dental crowns and false teeth. The crowns lie on the outsides of the bridge and they are placed onto the natural teeth that lie on each side of the gap in your mouth. The artificial teeth lie between those crowns and fill the gap in your smile. The two teeth that anchor the bridge are called abutment teeth and the artificial teeth are called pontics. Traditional bridges are the most common type of bridges. They are usually made of porcelain or ceramic materials.
Cantilever bridge
When an abutment tooth is available only on one side of the bridge, the dentist uses the cantilever bridge. With the cantilever bridge, the dentist applies the same amount of crowns but uses a different bridge layout. Two abutment crowns are fused together on the same side with the pontic on the end. Sometimes only one crown offers enough support.
Maryland bridge
The Maryland bridge, which is also called a resin-bonded bridge, is made up of a set of artificial teeth that are bonded by special wings. The wings are anchored to the supporting teeth instead of being attached by crowns. Maryland bridges are usually used for missing front teeth because they experience less stress from chewing and biting.
Whatever your needs are, we are here to complete your smile, so you can feel confident that you are getting the best care possible. If you have questions, please feel free to call us at (540) 989-6600.