Types of Dental Bridges

 

Dental bridges are tooth replacement treatments where a pontic (artificial) tooth is supported in an area that has a missing tooth. Depending on the type of bridge design, it might suspend between two other teeth, dental implants, or attach to the side of a healthy adjacent tooth.

 

The type of dental bridges available makes it possible to restore missing teeth in a fast and predictable manner. Before modern dental implant designs were developed, dental bridges were the sole go-to solution for replacing a tooth.

 

The most popular types of dental bridges include:

 

Traditional Dental Bridges

In the majority of cases, our Suffolk County dentists use traditional dental bridges. This type of bridge design is usually a 3 or 4-unit restoration that features a functional crown on either end. The crown area slips over a prepped healthy tooth, providing a foundation for the bridge to rest on top of it. Between the two ends are 1-2 pontic crowns, fused side-by-side to create one solid restoration. The pontic crowns are what’s suspended across the open area of your mouth, where the missing teeth once stood.

 

Of course, in order to get a traditional dental bridge, there needs to be healthy teeth on either side of the open gap. Our Long Island dentists will want to screen them for bone loss, gum recession, and tooth decay. If those teeth are unstable, they will not be able to support a bridge.

 

 

Cantilever Bridges

In the instance of a cantilever dental bridge, there is only one tooth to support the bridge instead of two. For stability’s sake, a cantilever bridge can only support a false/pontic crown for one missing tooth. No more. However, the structural design is nearly identical to a traditional dental bridge, except that it’s much shorter in length.

 

Cantilever bridges minimize the amount of reduction that has to be performed on supporting teeth. So, if you are missing a tooth behind the one that needs to be replaced, or the tooth in that area is structurally incapable of supporting a traditional bridge, a cantilever bridge may be the best solution. In that case, only the healthy tooth is being prepped, and the pontic crown extends out the side, filling in the open area of your bite. Such crowns are best used in areas where there is not as much heavy biting or chewing pressure.

 

Maryland Bonded Bridges

A Maryland bridge is much different than other bridges because it does not require overall physical reshaping of the supporting teeth. With traditional and cantilever bridges, the anchor teeth are prepped as if they are receiving a crown. But with a Maryland bonded bridge, there are small “wings” that extend out the side of a porcelain crown. Those wings are then bonded to the back of the adjacent teeth, holding the pontic tooth in place.

 

Sometimes Maryland bridges are used with remaining natural tooth structures, especially if an adolescent or teen is involved in an accident that results in a knocked-out tooth. That way it can be used as an interim solution so that one day a dental implant or traditional bridge can be installed.

 

Implant-Supported Bridges

An implant-supported bridge is essentially the same thing as a traditional dental bridge, except that instead of using two teeth to support it, you’re relying on a set of implants. This design allows you to replace more teeth with longer bridges when needed. Depending on how many teeth are missing, as little as two implants may be all that’s required. And in some cases, 4-6 implants can be used to anchor a full-arch hybrid, extended dental bridge.

 

 

What Will My Bridge “Teeth” Look Like?

 

Each of these different types of dental bridges is made in a lab. We can select the exact shade of porcelain so as to best match your neighboring teeth. That way when you smile, there’s little to no chance of anyone being able to tell that you’ve had dental work done. In most cases, bridges are ceramic. However, they can also be made of gold or porcelain fused to a metal base. The type of material selected will depend on what area of your mouth is involved, the amount of weight that will be exerted, and the aesthetic needs of that space. Ultimately, each of the “teeth” on your bridge will look as if they are independent, but they will be bonded side-by-side so as to create one solid unit.

 

For obvious reasons, most of our Long Island patients prefer bridges that are crafted out of durable ceramics and porcelains. These materials allow for maximum durability and aesthetics, regardless of where in your mouth the bridge is placed. In instances where metal may be involved, it’s situated in a way so as not to attract attention or even be visible when you’re smiling or talking to other people.

 

 

Choosing the Best Type of Dental Bridge

 

The flexibility of choosing from different types of dental bridges makes it easier to find one that fits your unique situation. At Sachem Dental Group, our Long Island dentists frequently incorporate traditional dental bridges and implant-supported bridges into patient care cases. Although Cantilever and Maryland bridges are less common, they have a place when the situation arises.

 

During your exam, we’ll discuss which type of bridge is best for your unique oral anatomy and restorative needs. It could be that you have more than one option to choose from, at which point we’ll weigh the advantages of each. Ultimately, you play an integral part in deciding what the best treatment is for your smile!

 

There will always be factors to consider, such as how many teeth need to be replaced, the health of the teeth supporting your bridge, and your projected oral health needs in the future.

 

 

Request Your Consultation Today

 

Do you need to replace a missing tooth? Our various types of dental bridges are one of the first treatments to consider. Call our Long Island multi-specialty general dentistry office today to request an appointment.