What Are Dental Bridges and How Do They Work?

Studies reported on by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research indicate that American adults aged 20-64 have an average tooth loss of 6.5. Some of these losses result from removing troublesome wisdom teeth or overcrowded teeth, but it still means there are a lot of people around with missing teeth that need replacing.

If you can still chew and talk reasonably well, one or two missing teeth might not seem like a big deal. However, missing a tooth that’s visible when you smile can affect self-confidence, and that’s not the only problem. Long-term, a gap can lead to the remaining teeth shifting position and affect the jawbone’s structure.

So what can you do about it? Krystle Fenton, DDS, and her expert team at Laguna Vista Dental in Elk Grove, California, recommend dental bridges, which offer an effective, long-lasting solution to the problem of missing teeth.

Dental bridges explained

Dental bridges or fixed partial dentures bridge the gap where one or several teeth are missing. They consist of abutments (the structures supporting a bridge) and pontics (the artificial teeth filling the gap). Abutments might be the natural teeth on either side of the gap or tiny posts in bridges that use dental implants.

The main types of dental bridges are:

Traditional

Traditional dental bridges have dental crowns (artificial tooth caps) on either side with pontics in between. Dr. Fenton forms the abutments by bonding the crowns to natural teeth on either side of your gap, with the pontics filling the space.

Maryland

Maryland or resin-bonded dental bridges use metal wings to secure the bridge instead of crowns. The wings bond to the backs of neighboring teeth to secure the bridge in position.

Cantilever

Cantilever bridges are like traditional dental bridges but only have a crown on one end rather than both. That means when Dr. Fenton bonds a cantilever bridge onto the abutment tooth, the pontic extends across the gap with no fixation on the other side. Because they have only one abutment, cantilever bridges are weaker than traditional bridges.

Implant-supported

Implant-supported bridges resemble traditional bridges, but they sit on dental implants. The implants are titanium posts surgically sited in your jaw to replace missing teeth roots. They fuse with your jawbone, providing a secure base for artificial teeth.

Implants are increasingly popular for replacing missing teeth because they’re the most natural, robust option, and provide a permanent solution.

Traditional dental bridges are a common choice and are excellent if you have healthy, strong natural teeth to act as abutments. A cantilever bridge is more appropriate if you only have natural teeth on one side of the missing tooth. Maryland bridges generally replace front teeth, where the crown system wouldn’t work so well.

Fitting dental bridges

If bridges are suitable for your missing teeth, Dr. Fenton will go through the options with you. When you’ve agreed on which is best for you, she’ll complete imaging scans to evaluate your bite (how your teeth come together). She can then ensure the crowns will fit seamlessly with your natural teeth.

At Laguna Vista Dental, we offer CEREC® same-day crowns so you avoid the delay of waiting for an off-site dental lab to produce your custom bridge. If you’re a good candidate for same-day bridges, you might be able to complete the procedure in a single day.

Dr. Fenton puts temporary crowns on patients whose permanent crowns need off-site production. When your bridge is ready, she checks it for fit and appearance. Most bridges are removable for cleaning, but implant bridges are typically fixed.

Call Laguna Vista Dental today if you’d like to learn more about dental bridges. You can schedule a consultation by phone or via the online booking form.