Dental Bridge

Dental bridges literally bridge 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 false teeth are called pontics and can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials. Dental bridges are supported by natural teeth or implants. Bridges are of benefit to patients who might be struggling with problems such as chewing food, speaking, properly distributing the force of your bite, and assist the remaining teeth from drifting out of position.

There are several types of bridges available. A traditional bridge involves having a crown produced for a tooth on either side of the missing tooth (this is the “gap”) and a pontic is placed in between. Usually a traditional bridge is created from porcelain which is fused to metal, or sometimes to other types of ceramics. A cantilever bridge is another type available, but is not used as much as the traditional type. This bridge has limitations – it’s typically not used in the back of the mouth as it’s possible to put too much force on other teeth and has the potential to damage them. The third type of bridge is known as resin bonded bridge. These are made from a variety of materials, such as porcelain, porcelain that is fused to metal, or it might be a combination of plastic teeth and gums that are supported by a framework. Often times this type of bridge will have “wings” that will bond to your existing teeth.

If you’re wondering if a bridge is right for you – we’re happy to have you come into our practice and get an evaluation from one of our doctors.