Dental bridges span the gap created by one or more missing teeth.
A bridge is made up of two crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap — these two anchoring teeth are called abutment teeth — and a false tooth/teeth in between. These false teeth are called pontics. Dental bridges can be supported by natural teeth or implants.
Bridges can restore the ability to properly chew and speak, distribute the forces in your bite properly by replacing missing teeth, restore your smile, and prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position.
There are three main types of dental bridges:
- 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.
- Cantilever bridges are used when there are adjacent teeth on only one side of the missing tooth or teeth.
- Maryland bonded bridges (also called a resin-bonded bridge or a Maryland bridge) are made of porcelain teeth with plastic gums that are supported by a metal framework. Metal wings on each side of the framework are bonded to the back side of your existing teeth.