28 Nov What Types of Dental Bridges are Available?
Dental bridges are a simple solution for tooth restoration. As the name suggests, a dental bridge spans a gap created by one or more missing teeth, and there are several types of dental bridges available to a dentist, depending on the treatment required to restore a patient’s smile.
Dental bridges are made up of two dental crowns which are affixed to teeth on either side of the gap left by a now-missing tooth; between the crowns, an artificial tooth provides the aesthetic finish. The anchoring teeth used in dental bridges can be created from a range of materials, including porcelain and other alloys.
A dental bridge works to restore a person’s smile, but can also help to preserve the ability to chew and speak, maintain the shape of the patient’s face and prevent teeth from shifting. Shifting teeth can lead to bite malformation and temperomandibular joint disorder amongst other conditions.
There are typically three types of dental bridge that a dentist will employ; these are called traditional bridges, cantilever bridges and resin-bonded bridges – also referred to as Maryland bridges.
Traditional bridges involve the dentist creating a dental crown to be placed on either side of the missing tooth with a pontic, or artificial tooth, in between. Traditional bridges are the most common form of bridge treatment. A dentist shaves away a small amount of tooth enamel from both abutment teeth in order to accommodate the dental crowns.
A cantilever bridge is used where there is only one adjacent tooth; the pontic is supported from one side only, and supported by one or more dental crowns depending on the level of support required by the bridge.
Resin-bonded bridges involve placing the pontic onto a metal framework. The bridge is then bonded into place onto a patient’s existing teeth via small metal wings on either side of the dental bridge.
The type of bridge a patient requires will depend on the location of teeth that need to be replaced; your dentist will advise on the best type of dental bridge required to achieve the best result.
If you are interested in learning how dental bridges can benefit your smile, contact the San Antonio office of Drs. Huriega and Bonner today at 210-616-0858 to schedule an informative consultation.