If you’re missing teeth, one option may be a dental bridge. London, Ontario, patients can choose between four types of dental bridges to fill the gap left by missing teeth. All four help you eat, speak, and smile as normal.

1. Traditional Bridge

The most common type is a traditional bridge. This bridge features pontics to replace the missing teeth and is held in place with a crown mounted to the natural teeth on either side of the gap. This setup is strong enough to replace molars.

2. Cantilever Bridge

An issue with crowns is that they involve removing some healthy tooth to fit. For this reason, some patients prefer a cantilever bridge to a traditional bridge, as it only features a single crown. However, this type of bridge is less supportive, making it inappropriate in some situations. For instance, it can lead to fractured teeth or a loose crown.

3. Maryland Bridge

A Maryland bridge lacks crowns entirely. Instead, it uses a metal or porcelain frame to hold the pontics in place. Unfortunately, a Maryland bridge is usually unsuitable for molars, as it is unable to withstand the biting forces of the back teeth.

4. Implant-Supported Bridge

A final option is an implanted-support bridge. This is another option free from crowns on your natural teeth, but it is only possible if you are missing more than one tooth.

You have two options for an implant-supported bridge. The first is to receive an implant for each missing tooth, which together hold the bridge in place. The second option is to receive two implants to support the pontics. The implants act like the crowns in a traditional bridge. This may be a good option if you are missing many or all of your teeth.

Talk to your London dentist about what type of bridge would be right for you.

https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/cosmetic-dentistry/bridges-and-crowns/four-types-of-dental-bridges-0616