You may have heard of dental bridges, but are unsure of how they work and which types of dental bridges would be best for you. The dental bridge has been around since the 1880s and is one of the most common restorative options available. This guide provides you with information on all different types of dental bridges, their applications, pros and cons, and more! By the end, you’ll be able to make an informed decision about which dental bridge is best for you.
Full Bridge
A full bridge is one in which you have a single tooth in your missing area that is crowned to fill it, and there are crowns on either side. A full bridge will require a more complex preparation by your dentist, but it can be very strong and stable. If you’re having issues with just one tooth and want to keep its original root structure intact, then a full bridge may be for you. This type of dental restoration can also help distribute pressure evenly across neighboring teeth, which reduces your risk for future dental health issues or damage to existing teeth. That being said, they do tend to cost more than other types of bridges due to their complexity.
Abutment Tooth Bridge
The abutment tooth bridge is similar to a fixed bridge. It is anchored to two teeth (the abutments) on either side of an empty space or missing tooth. Unlike a removable appliance, it cannot be taken out when eating and brushing teeth. This type of dental bridge provides more stability than other types; because it’s attached by crowns, there are no bands that are vulnerable to movement. The average cost for an abutment tooth bridge is between $2000 and $3000 depending on your location.
Maryland Bridge
A Maryland bridge, also known as a Maryland smile, is a dental bridge that is made from a single crown for each tooth on either side of the gap. Unlike other bridges, which use two or more artificial teeth to fill in where missing teeth were, all you see in a Maryland bridge are natural-looking crowns. The key to making sure that no one can tell it’s not your real tooth is for it to match your natural teeth closely in color and size. Plus, because there are no additional artificial teeth visible when you smile, it looks much less noticeable than other bridges.
Cantilever Bridge
The cantilever bridge is a popular dental bridge that uses one crown on either side of the missing tooth. The main benefit to using a cantilever bridge is that it can be combined with other types of bridges, such as fixed partial dentures or implant-supported bridges. This makes it an ideal solution for patients with multiple missing teeth in both arches. When choosing a cantilever dental bridge, you’ll need to decide whether you want your teeth prepared using traditional techniques or CAD/CAM technology. Traditional preparation takes longer but ensures a more stable fit and look, while CAD/CAM-prepared crowns are quicker but may not last as long over time. Most bridges take about two weeks to complete.
Implant Supported Bridge
An implant-supported bridge is similar to a conventional bridge, but with one key difference. Instead of bonding directly to adjacent teeth, an implant-supported bridge uses titanium screws or other types of implants to connect its segments. Implants are stronger than natural teeth and thus better able to support a dental bridge. They also offer more flexibility in terms of placement because they can be placed farther apart than your natural teeth are.
Partial Dentures with a Crown
A partial denture is a removable set of false teeth that may be used to replace one or more missing teeth. A full denture (also called complete dentures) replaces all your natural teeth. If you have gaps in your mouth that can’t be filled with a partial denture, you might consider a dental bridge. It involves using at least two false teeth and cementing them on either side of a gap left by one or more missing teeth. Not only will it fill in your smile again, but it’ll also help retain oral health because it’ll hold your other natural teeth in place better. If you’re considering getting a bridge, find out about its pros and cons first!
