Dental Bridges
When you need to replace one or more teeth in a row, a dental bridge may make you forget that you ever lost them in the first place. We offer four types of dental bridges to replace your teeth for a smile that looks just like it did before — or better. To explore your options for dental bridges, call the office or book your appointment online today.
Dental Bridges FAQ’s
What are dental bridges?
Dental bridges are appliances that fill in the gaps left by missing teeth. If you lose a tooth or several teeth in a row, you have a lot to consider when it comes to choosing an appliance.
Bridges are false teeth supported by either an implant, a crown on your surrounding teeth, or a metal structure attached to other teeth.
Our practice uses the 3Shape TRIOS® 3D Scanner to make digital impressions for creating the crowns for your dental bridges.
Typically, these false teeth on dental bridges are made of porcelain to recreate your original tooth’s appearance. However, you may have the option to choose another material, such as gold.
What are the benefits of dental bridges?
Bridges have many benefits, not only for the appearance of your smile but for your mouth’s functionality, too. After getting dental bridges, you can enjoy:
- Easier eating and chewing
- A full, more attractive smile
- A structured face shape
- Improved speaking clarity
- Surrounding teeth that stay in place and don’t drift into the gap
- Properly distributed bite forces
We can give you more details about the benefits of bridges and help you weigh other options to decide which is best for you.
What types of dental bridges can I get?
There are several types of dental bridges that differ in the way they’re placed in your mouth. Your dentist decides which is best for you depending on the position of your missing tooth and the health of surrounding structures in your mouth.
They work with you to decide which of these options to use:
Traditional bridges
If you get a traditional bridge, your false tooth is connected to crowns that cover the teeth on both sides of the gap. If you have healthy teeth on both sides, a traditional bridge might be your best option.
Cantilever bridges
Cantilever bridges are attached in a similar way to traditional bridges but with only one crown. Your dentist may recommend this if your missing tooth is at the end of a row.
Maryland bridges
Maryland bridges are attached to teeth on both sides of the gap not via crowns, but with a metal or porcelain frame instead. The frame is attached to the backs of your teeth so you can’t see it from the front.
Implant-supported bridges
Instead of relying on your other teeth for support, dental implants embedded in your jaw bone hold these bridges in place. They’re the sturdiest option, but they require surgery to place.
If you recently lost a tooth and want to get back to looking and feeling like yourself, contact us to explore your options for bridges today.