Replacing Teeth With Dental Bridges

A dental bridge can replace missing teeth, restore your ability to chew food and improve your appearance and oral health. Depending on the type, a bridge consists of one or two dental crowns (one on either side of the gap) that fit over your existing teeth, two dental implants, or two metal wings and a number of artificial teeth that fill in the space left by the teeth you are missing. The crown(s), implants, or wings are called abutments, and the artificial teeth are called pontics. A bridge can replace a single missing tooth or a row of up to four consecutive missing teeth. Bridges are custom-made to match the color of your natural teeth.

In this article, we will review the types of bridges available and the factors your dentist will consider to determine which type you need.

Types of bridges

There are four main types of dental bridges:

• Cantilever bridge
• Implant-supported bridge
• Maryland bridge (resin-bonded bridge)
• Traditional bridge

A cantilever bridge is similar to a traditional bridge, but it involves only one abutment instead of two. Cantilever bridges are not as sturdy as traditional bridges, so they are used when you only have natural teeth on one side of the gap, such as to replace missing teeth at the back of your mouth.

An implant-supported bridge is also similar to a traditional bridge, but instead of utilizing crowns on your existing teeth, an implant-supported bridge rests on dental implants, which are small threaded steel posts that replace the roots of missing teeth. Getting an implant-supported bridge put in takes longer than other types of bridges because the dental implants must be installed first and given time to fuse with your jawbone before the bridge can be put in. Dental implants usually take three to six months to fuse with your jawbone, but it can take longer. You need to have at least three missing teeth in a row to get an implant-supported bridge.

A Maryland bridge (a resin-bonded bridge) is secured by metal wings instead of crowns or implants. The wings are bonded to the backs of your neighboring teeth. This type of bridge is not strong enough to support the chewing power of your back teeth, so your dentist will only use a Maryland bridge to replace your front teeth.

A traditional bridge is made up of two dental crowns (one on each of the existing teeth on either side of the missing teeth) with artificial teeth in the middle. You must have healthy existing teeth on either side of a gap of one to four teeth to have a traditional bridge put in. This is the most commonly used type of bridge.

Which type of bridge do I need?

There are several factors that your dentist must consider when deciding which type of bridge to put in, including:

• How many teeth need to be replaced
• The condition of the tooth or teeth next to the gap
• The location of the gap
• The overall health of your teeth and gums
• The size of the gap
• Whether you have healthy natural teeth on both sides or just one side of the gap
• Your age (bridges are not usually used for children, for example)
• Your personal preference