Restoring Your Smile After Tooth Loss
Losing a tooth is more common than many people realize, and replacing it helps protect your bite and the health of the teeth around the gap. A dental bridge is one dependable way to do that. Every bridge has two main parts: abutments, which are crowns placed on natural teeth or on implants to anchor the bridge, and a pontic, the replacement tooth that spans the open space. When a single tooth is missing, the teeth on each side are prepared for crowns, and the pontic is joined to them as one fixed unit. When several teeth in a row are gone, dental implants can serve as the anchors instead. Dr. Jennifer Wachs, DDS, a member of the American Dental Association, and the team at Family Dentistry of Yorktown will help you compare a bridge with other options such as dentures so you can choose what suits your needs.
Missing a tooth? Call 914-245-9881 to talk with Dr. Jennifer Wachs about a dental bridge at Family Dentistry of Yorktown.
Dental bridges generally fall into four main categories:
There are four main types of dental bridges:
Traditional Dental Bridge
This is the most common type of dental bridge. The existing teeth are crowned with one or more pontics between and held in place by the crowned abutments. The crowns are cemented onto the teeth adjacent to the missing teeth to create a support structure or “bridge” for the missing teeth.
Cantilever Bridge
This type of bridge is similar to a traditional bridge, except that the structure is supported on only one side instead of both sides. This can cause the restoration to act as a “lever” and may create additional stress on the supporting tooth, causing it to be more likely to loosen or fracture.
Implant Supported Bridge
Instead of using existing teeth to support a bridge, a dental implant may be substituted to provide support for one or both sides of a dental bridge. This is a popular option that can provide a very secure restoration. This solution is particularly helpful when there are several adjacent missing teeth.
Maryland Bridge
This type of bridge is supported by a metal structure that is cemented onto the back of existing teeth. While not as strong as a traditional bridge, it can preserve the tooth structure of the adjacent teeth by avoiding the use of crowns for the abutments. It may not stay in place when heavy forces are placed on the restoration (such as biting and chewing) and does add pressure to the supporting teeth.
