Dental Bridges
What is a Dental Bridge?
Dental bridges literally bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth. A bridge is made up of two or more crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap and a false tooth in between. Dental bridges are supported by natural teeth or implants.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Bridges?
Bridges can:
- Restore your smile.
- Restore the ability to properly chew and speak.
- Maintain the shape of your face.
- Distribute the forces in your bite properly by replacing missing teeth.
- Prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position.
What Types of Dental Bridges Are Available?
There are three main types of dental bridges:
- Traditional bridges:- This type of bridges involve creating a crown for the tooth or implant on either side of the missing tooth, with a pontic in between. Traditional bridges are the most common type of bridge and are made of either porcelain fused to metal or ceramics.
- Cantilever bridges:- This are used when there are adjacent teeth on only one side of the missing tooth or teeth. This is not very common any more.
- Maryland bonded bridges:- This type of bridges are also called a resin-bonded bridge or a Maryland bridges. This are made of porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or plastic teeth and gums supported by a metal or porcelain framework. Metal or porcelain wings on each side of the bridge are bonded to your existing teeth.