What are the Types of Dental Bridges?

According to the American Dental Association, the average adult between 20 and 64 has three diseased or missing teeth, so if you find that you are struggling with a gap in your smile, you are not alone. You and your dentist have a number of treatment options to restore your smile and bring your mouth to full health.

After you talk to your dentist and determine that a dental bridge is the next best step in your treatment plan, you have four types of dental bridges in dayton oh from which to choose.

Traditional Dental Bridge

Traditional bridges are the most common type of bridges. Dentists replace missing teeth with pontics and hold them into place with crowns on either side of the gap. The crowns are used as abutments to hold the pontics in place with dental cement.

Not every missing tooth can be replaced with a traditional bridge. This type is best used when you have natural, healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth. While traditional bridges are strong enough to replace the molars and the pressure from biting and chewing, they do have a down side. Traditional bridges require that natural teeth to be prepared for crowns or have their enamel removed to ensure the crowns stay cemented in place. Once enamel is removed from a tooth, it can not be replaced, so these teeth will need crowns even if you end up changing your bridge at some point in the future.

Cantilever Bridges

While Cantilever bridges have a different name than traditional bridges, they are very similar. The major difference is the replacement tooth is held in place with a crown on one side only, versus the traditional two sides. If you are looking to replace a missing tooth with only a natural tooth on one side of the gap, the dentist can still offer you an option to replace your missing tooth.

Much like traditional bridges, the pontic is held in place with a crown so the dentist will need to remove the enamel from the natural tooth for the crown. Once the crown is in place as the only abutment for the bridge, the false tooth can be cemented securely.

Because the bridge is not secured on both sides, the cantilever style bridge can lead to broken teeth.

Maryland Bridges

Modern approaches to dentistry have allowed the traditional bridge to evolve into the more conservative Maryland bridge. Instead securing the bridge into place with crowns on the adjacent teeth, the natural teeth are left in tact. The false tooth is held in place with framework bonded to the backs of the adjacent teeth.

The strength of the framework is not as strong as a traditional bridge, so these types of bridges are best used not as molars. The framework itself may be troublesome to your gums or your bite, depending on its placement in your mouth.

Implant-Supported Bridges

When you have more than one tooth missing, an implant-supported bridge may be the ideal solution for you. The bridge is held into place by a dental implant, one for each missing tooth.

Implant-Supported bridges feel comfortable and stay securely in place, but do require surgery to place the implants. After the surgery, the gum tissue needs time to heal and avoid infection. Your patience over the months this bridge requires is rewarded with a toothy smile.

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