The Different Types of Dental Bridges: Finding the Perfect Fit

A dental bridge is a tooth replacement option that does not require incisions to be made into the gums. However, there are many different types of dental bridges, and finding the perfect one can feel overwhelming. While your dentist will usually recommend what they think is best, it can be helpful to know the available types ahead of time. This way, you can make an informed decision about your oral healthcare or prepare questions to ask your dentist.

The many types of dental bridges

Dental bridges come in many forms, but what unites them is that they leverage the teeth around the gap made by a missing tooth in order to suspend a replacement in that space. The main types of dental bridges that patients can choose from are as follows.

Traditional bridges

The most common type of bridge, a traditional bridge, uses one tooth on each side of a gap to support a prosthetic tooth in between. The two natural teeth are shaped to the extent that they can each be covered by a crown, onto which the prosthetic is attached. Due to the need for two crowns supporting the false tooth between them, a traditional bridge only works when the person is missing one tooth between two healthy teeth.

Cantilever bridges

Unlike traditional bridges, which affix crowns to teeth on either side of a gap, cantilever bridges only require one supporting tooth. This makes them more common for treating missing teeth at the end of a dental arch, where only one tooth remains to support the bridge. The rest of the process is the same, with an abutment being placed as a crown on one tooth to support the prosthetic.

Maryland bridges

One of the challenges that dentists face is the front teeth not being as conducive to crowning as the back teeth. So, if a person needs a bridge on the front teeth, a Maryland bridge could be an alternative. This type of bridge uses “wings” bonded to the backs of two nearby teeth to hold a prosthetic in place.

The supports attached to the backs of the teeth are not visible when a person smiles. Maryland bridges cannot withstand strong bite forces (such as those experienced by the molars), so they are typically only used for front teeth.

Removable bridges

Some patients may be good candidates for removable bridges, also called partial dentures. These installations are created using a mold of the patient’s mouth and can be snapped in or out like a retainer whenever the patient wishes. However, their removable nature makes them less sturdy than other types of bridges.