Bridges

Dental bridges are an excellent option to replace missing teeth, helping to maintain your oral health and restoring both function and aesthetics.

A dental bridge can be used to fill the gap caused by one or more missing teeth. The bridge is made with one or more artificial (fake) teeth attached to your remaining healthy teeth. It is usually made up of crowns on either side of the missing tooth or teeth that support the pontic (fake tooth).

Bridges are considered not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing prostheses, and they are available in a variety of shades to complement your natural tooth colour.

Why would you need a bridge?

Dental bridges are used to fill the gap in a missing tooth or teeth. If you have one or more missing teeth, this can cause further problems later on in life. Out teeth work in relationship with each other, so leaving a gap can cause the following:

• Bite problems
• Chewing issues
• Discomfort caused by the extra pressure on your teeth and jaw.
• Feeling self-conscious about your smile.
• Opposing teeth over erupting
• Neighbouring teeth drifting or tilting

What types of dental bridges are available?

The four major types of bridges are as follows:

Bonded Bridge

The most common form of bridge is the traditional bonded bridge. It is made up of two or more crowns as well as a filler tooth or teeth that are all connected together. The crowns keep the bridge in place. Traditional bridges are made of metal, porcelain fused to metal or ceramics.

Cantilever Bridge

In this bridge design, the pontic (fake tooth) connects to only one abutment (crown put on a natural tooth). This is sometimes an option for those who only have teeth on one side of a gap.

Maryland dental bridge (winged bridge)

If you have lost front teeth, you may need a Maryland – or winged – bridge. It is constructed of a single false tooth. Each side of the bridge has wings that are bonded to the back of your existing teeth.

Implant retained bridge

This bridge is similar to a bonded bridge in that it may replace numerous lost teeth, but instead of being cemented to natural teeth, it is held in place by implants.