Differentiating Between the Four Common Dental Bridge Options

Four distinct kinds of dental bridges are available to you if you have lost a tooth due to extraction, serious decay, or structural damage. A dental bridge comprises of one or more fake teeth (the pontic) fused to crown-covered abutment teeth. Dental bridges are a great way to fix your smile and bite by permanently replacing missing teeth and preventing other teeth from slipping into the empty space. The pontic usually looks like the rest of your teeth and merges in seamlessly. Know about your options from the certified dentist in Northeast Philadelphia.

Below, we’ll break down the four most common kinds of dental bridges.

Dentist-made Bridges

One or more pontic teeth (sometimes called pontics) are fused to your teeth on either side of the gap (also called an abutment or anchor tooth) using dental cement. In most cases, pontics are made from porcelain bonded to ceramics or metal, and crowns are used to strengthen the abutment teeth.

If the teeth on either side of the gap are in good health, a standard dental bridge can be utilized to close the space. The two teeth that will act as abutments for the bridge must be reshaped before crowns can be cemented onto them. This is done so that the crowns can fit properly and the teeth are robust enough to hold the bridge in place.

Dental Bridge with Cantilever Design

As with a regular bridge, a cantilever dental bridge only anchors to one tooth on either side of the gap. It can be employed in situations where there are no teeth on one side of the gap or where the teeth on that side are already part of another prosthetic restoration.

The abutment tooth’s enamel is filed down like it would for a conventional bridge.

Incorporating a Bonded Bridge in Maryland

A Maryland bonded bridge is similar to a standard bridge in that it employs two healthy teeth on either side of the gap. A porcelain or metal framework is connected to the chewing surfaces of the abutment teeth rather than dental crowns.

Unlike conventional bridges, the surrounding teeth don’t need to be filed down for the insertion of crowns in a Maryland dental bridge, making it a more conservative option.

Implant-Retained Bridge

In contrast to traditional bridges, which rely on frames and crowns for stability, implant-supported bridges are fixed in place by means of dental implants. One implant for a missing tooth must be surgically placed into the jawbone.