Bridge (dentistry)

Bridge (dentistry)

A bridge in dentistry is a fixed dental prosthesis used to replace one or more missing teeth by joining an artificial tooth definitively to adjacent teeth or dental implants.

Types of Bridges

There are four main types of dental bridges:

1. Traditional bridges involve creating a crown for the tooth or implant on either side of the missing tooth, with a pontic in between. Traditional bridges are the most common type of bridge and are made of either porcelain fused to metal or ceramics.
2. Cantilever bridges are used when there are adjacent teeth on only one side of the missing tooth or teeth.
3. Maryland bonded bridges (also called a resin-bonded bridge or a Maryland bridge) are made of porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or plastic teeth and gums supported by a metal or porcelain framework.
4. Implant-supported bridges use dental implants as opposed to crowns or frameworks. Typically, one implant is surgically placed for every missing tooth, and these implants hold the bridge in position.

Procedure

The procedure for receiving a dental bridge usually involves multiple visits to the dentist. During the first visit, the abutment teeth are prepared. Preparation involves recontouring these teeth by removing a portion of enamel to allow room for a crown to be placed over them. Next, impressions of the teeth are made, which serve as a model from which the bridge, pontic, and crowns will be made by a dental lab.

Benefits and Risks

Dental bridges can help restore your smile, maintain the shape of your face, and distribute the forces in your bite properly by replacing missing teeth. However, they also come with risks such as damage to the teeth the bridge is attached to, and potential for decay if not properly maintained.

See Also

• Dental implant
• Dental restoration
• Dental surgery
• Prosthodontics