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Types of Fixed Dental Bridges

A fixed dental bridge replaces one or more missing teeth, staying permanently in position. A bridge --- or "pontic" --- repairs a gap in a damaged smile and keeps the other teeth aligned, but it is more than cosmetic. According to the American Dental Association, bridges can help patients chew better and speak more clearly. A bridge relieves pressure on the remaining teeth when biting, helps preserve the shape of the face and can reduce the risk of gum disease, too.

  1. Traditional

    • The two healthy teeth on either side of a gap in the smile provide the "anchors" for a traditional fixed bridge. These two teeth are prepared by filing to make space for the bridge. The two teeth then receive porcelain crowns, with the bridge containing one or more false teeth fused to these crowns, so that it fills the gap. A traditional bridge can be used where the "anchor" teeth already have fillings. Such a bridge should last for 10 years or more. This type of pontic is used in the majority of cases where a bridge is necessary.

    Resin-Bonded

    • A resin-bonded bridge --- sometimes called a "Maryland" bridge --- often helps fill a gap in the front teeth. A false tooth is first bonded to metal bands, which are in turn bonded to the "anchor" teeth with resin. The bands and the resin attach to the back face of the teeth, so that they are not visible to others. This type of bridge requires much less preparation to the neighboring teeth. A resin-bonded bridge is less expensive than a traditional one, but is not suitable for "anchor" teeth that already have large fillings, or for a gap in the back teeth, where the jaw brings a lot of pressure to bear.

    Cantilever

    • A cantilever bridge has just a single support. Such a dental bridge is used where healthy teeth are available to act as an "anchor" on only one side of a missing tooth. The bridge support is bonded to one or more of the neighboring teeth on this side of the mouth. Since this single "anchor" must provide all the support for the bridge, cantilevers are only suitable for use in areas where the jaw does not bring great pressure to bear on the teeth. In practice, this limits the use of cantilever bridges to the front teeth only.

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