Different Types of Dental Bridges

There are several different types of dental bridges and although each type serves the same purpose (of bridging the gap between teeth were a tooth is missing), the condition of a patient’s existing teeth will largely determine the sort of bridge that will best suit them.

The different types of dental bridges are divided into three categories: traditional fixed bridges, bonded bridges and cantilever bridges.

The majority of people with bridges have traditional fixed bridges. With this type of bridge a false (or pontic) tooth is anchored in the mouth with two crowns that are attached to the two natural teeth on either side of the space where the bridge will go. When this type of bridge is inserted the surrounding natural teeth usually have to be sculpted and reduced in size a bit to make room for the crown and bridge. The two crowns and the false tooth are bonded together into one unit and then the combination is affixed in the patient’s mouth. As their name would indicate, the fixed bridge is permanent and cannot be removed once it is anchored into place. Fixed bridges can work well for people with filings because existing filings can actually be used as foundation for the crowns that are placed on the patient’s natural teeth.

Bonded bridges (or resin bonded bridges) are usually less expensive than fixed bridges, but unfortunately they are not for everybody. This type of bridge is usually only offered to patients who have healthy, well-maintained teeth surrounding the area where the bridge is to be inserted. Bonded bridges are not usually offered to people with weak, unhealthy teeth, or people whose surrounding (or abutment) teeth have large fillings in them. Bonded bridges are also more likely to be affixed in areas that aren’t stressed when a person is eating. This type of bridge is popular for replacing missing front teeth. With bonded bridges the false (or pontic) replacement tooth is attached with metal bands or wings and resin cement to the two surrounding natural teeth. Some people prefer this type of bridge because it requires less work being done on the surrounding teeth.

Like bonded bridges cantilever bridges are also typically used on the front teeth and in areas in the mouth that aren’t stressed when a person is chewing. These bridges are usually used when a person has a natural tooth only on one side of the space where the bridge will sit, instead of on both sides. Unlike other bridges, which need to be attached to both surrounding teeth, cantilever bridges are designed to adhere just to one side on the natural tooth or teeth to the left or to the right of where the false tooth will sit.

Before investing in bridges talk to a dental expert about which type of dental bridge will give you the longest lasting and most natural result and fit best with the rest of your teeth.