What is a dental bridge?

Life can be a chaotic experience filled with hazards and accidents. Sometimes those experiences can even cause us to lose a tooth. The world of dentistry is no stranger to this and is constantly coming up with creative ways of helping us deal with the situations that may affect our precious chompers.

A missing tooth or even multiple teeth is no laughing matter. Missing teeth can affect your ability to chew, talk or even change the alignment of the teeth and shape of your face. Dental bridges prevent these problems by filling the gap in your smile with an artificial tooth attached to a permanent dental implant or the natural teeth next to it.

A dental bridge is a fixed device that replaces one or more missing teeth. The bridge itself can be made of metal, porcelain or ceramic material, or a metal base with a porcelain or ceramic coating. Once in place, a dental bridge is a permanently fixed device and cannot be taken out of your mouth without help from your dentist.

There are three types of dental bridges. All of which fill a space left by one or more missing teeth with an artificial tooth. Placing a dental bridge is generally considered safe and is just one method used to replace missing teeth. Always be sure to discuss all your treatment options with your dentist to understand which options are right for you.

Types of Dental Bridges:

• Traditional bridges consist of an artificial tooth attached to two or more crowns. A dental crown is a fixed device that covers a tooth with a tooth-shaped cap. The crowns are placed over the teeth on both sides of the gap to support the artificial tooth.
• Cantilever bridges consist of an artificial tooth attached to one or more crowns on one side of the missing tooth. A dental crown is a fixed device that covers a tooth with a tooth-shaped cap. Cantilever bridges replace a missing tooth that has teeth on only one side of it.
• Maryland bridges consist of an artificial tooth that is bonded or cemented to natural teeth on either side of it with small metal or ceramic attachments. These attachments are shaped like wings. Maryland bridges are sometimes called Maryland bonded bridges, resin bonded bridges, or Encore bridges. Maryland bridges are typically used for front teeth because they create a more natural appearance. They are not as strong as other bridges and are not suited to replace teeth that do a lot of hard biting or chewing.

For more information or to schedule a dental appointment, please call Bellingham Dentist Parker Haley at (360) 734-6190.