What are the Types of Dental Bridges?

Unfortunately you have lost a tooth. Or even several. Your dentist tried everything to save the tooth but an extraction resulting from decay, a crack or infected chip was the healthiest alternative at this point. Maybe you had an accident that broke a tooth off. It is leaving you standing in front of the mirror and looking at a gap in your smile. You can either proceed to correct that gap with an implant or a dental bridge. We’ll discuss the bridge solution with this review.

Four Types of Dental Bridges

Depending on the location of the missing tooth, or teeth, there are four different methods in addressing the dental bridge. The most common and most popular is the Traditional Bridge. In this solution you have a missing tooth, and an ensuing gap, that needs to be bridged. Like a bridge you cross every day, you need anchors to support the span. These two teeth are called abutments. These two teeth are prepped to receive porcelain or enamel crowns. Once the crowns are in place the artificial tooth, called a pontic, is permanently affixed to the crowns. The artificial tooth is made in a dental lab out of the same material as the crown giving you your natural smile back. A second type of bridge is the Maryland Bridge. The difference here is that the two abutment/anchor teeth do not receive crowns. Instead, the artificial tooth is held permanently in place with a wire or thin wing like carrier that is bonded or cemented to the back of both of the anchor teeth. The third version of the bridge is the Cantilever Bridge. This is now a situation, depending on the location of the missing tooth, in which you only have one abutment tooth to work with. A crown is still introduced over the anchor tooth and the artificial tooth affixed to that crown. The final and fourth type is the Implant-Supported Bridge. Let’s say a car accident took out three teeth in a row. The span is too great for a traditional bridge, so implants are placed in the middle, crowns are added to the abutment teeth, and then the a pontic is placed in between the anchor crowns which are on the implants).

The Benefits to you when choosing a Dental Bridge

Remember that mirror you were standing in front of? Well, the first obvious benefit of having a dental bridge placed is the return of your smile. The added value is what that smile brings you in self-esteem and self-confidence. The health benefits are the bridge holds your natural teeth in their place as well, stopping any drift they may want to do into that gap. You will also go back to enjoying a healthy distribution of your biting ability when it comes to eating. Depending on the placement of the gap the missing tooth might have influenced your speech, so that issue will be corrected. A dental bridge brings more advantages than disadvantages to your quality of life.

Learn More About Dental Bridges : What is a Dental Bridge?