Dental Bridges

When you have one or more missing teeth, then a dental bridge may be used to restore the resulting gaps. The dental bridge is basically a false tooth, beautifully created from porcelain that fills the gap and is supported by adjacent teeth or implants.

One of the most crucial skills in the placement of a dental bridge is to create the illusion that the missing tooth emerges from the gum just as a natural tooth. Our skills in cosmetic dentistry, gum manipulation and our in-house implantologist can ensure that no-one will know you ever had a missing tooth!

There are several types of bridges:

1. Traditional Fixed Dental Bridge

Here the “false tooth” is fused between two porcelain crowns to fill the gap left by a missing tooth. There are two crowns holding it in place attached to your teeth on either side of the false tooth. This type of dental bridge can be used to replace one or more missing teeth.

2. Cantilever Dental Bridge

In areas of your mouth that are under less stress, such as your front teeth, a cantilever dental bridge may be used. A cantilever dental bridge is when the “false tooth” is only supported on one side. The result is just as aesthetic but has the benefit that fewer teeth have to be treated.

3. Resin Bonded Dental Bridges / Maryland Dental Bridge

This type of dental bridge is almost always used for your front teeth. The main benefit of this type of dental bridge is that healthy teeth on either side need either minimal or no preparation. The “false tooth” is fused to metal or ceramic “wings” that are bonded very firmly to the supporting or “abutment” teeth with a resin. The wings are hidden from view so that only the porcelain, which appears just like a natural tooth, is visible.

4. Implant Supported Dental Bridges

Implants are the modern way to replace missing teeth. An implant is placed in the bone where the tooth root would have originally been. When it has fused to the bone, it can be restored with individual crowns or, when more than one tooth is missing, with an implant supported dental bridge. Even if you have no teeth in one or both jaws, implants can be placed and an implant supported dental bridge securely fixed.