What are the Types of Dental Bridges?

When you are talking to the dentist about your missing tooth and your replacement options, the dentist will talk to you about dental bridges valparaiso indiana.  And as the materials and techniques have advanced, the dentist has more than one type of dental bridge to choose from based on the area of your mouth affected, the health of the surrounding teeth and the strength of the bridge for your bite.  The four major types are:

  1. Traditional Dental Bridges

Traditional bridges are the most common and the original technique using the existing teeth to hold the replacement tooth in place.  The teeth on either side are covered with crowns, or abutments, and the replacement tooth, or pontic, is cemented permanently in place.  In order to use a traditional bridge, you will need to have natural teeth on either side of the missing tooth.  Even if you are missing a molar, a traditional bridge is strong enough to replace that tooth to help you chew easier.  The dentist will need to remove the enamel of the natural teeth to ensure the abutments are secured to the teeth, which will leave the natural teeth needing to always be protected by a crown.

  1. Cantilever Bridges

Cantilever bridges are used to replace missing teeth just like traditional bridges, but instead of being attached on both sides, cantilever bridges are attached to only one abutment.  In the cases of the missing tooth only having a natural tooth to one side, the cantilever bridge is a great solution.  And just like traditional bridges, cantilever bridges require preparation of the natural tooth.  Unfortunately, these bridges can experience more problems with crowns because the bridge being secured on one side.  If the pressure from biting and chewing is not distributed evenly, the bridge can act like a lever.

  1. Maryland Bridges

Maryland bridges are used as an alternative to traditional bridges; instead of attaching the replacement tooth to the teeth on either side, the pontic is held in place with metal or porcelain.  The metal or porcelain is formed into a framework attached to the backs of the teeth on either side of the gap.  Unlike traditional and cantilever bridges, the natural teeth do not need to have their enamel removed or have crowns.  Unfortunately, Maryland bridges have limited strength and the metal may cause problems for your bite or your gums.

  1. Implant-Supported Bridges

Implant-supported bridges are a combination to two great advances in dentistry to replace more than one missing tooth.  The bridge does not rely on attachment to teeth on either side or frameworks to stay in place.  Instead, the replacement teeth remain in place by implants set in the gums.  Often the dentist will place one implant for each missing tooth and the chain of implants hold the bridge securely in place, but if an implant is not possible, a pontic can be held in place with an implant supported crown on either side.  These bridges offer the most natural feel with the security of an implant, but these bridges require the most healing time with the more invasive implant procedure.

More on Dental Bridges : Differences between dental bridges and dental implants

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