A perfect smile can open doors. It can radiate confidence, health, and joy. One key to a perfect smile lies in dental bridges. This simple dental fix helps fill the gap where a tooth or teeth may be missing. Dental bridges, like San Leandro Invisalign®, bring together modern technology and dental expertise to restore your smile to perfection. This blog dives deep into the world of dental bridges – what they are, how they’re installed, and the benefits they offer.
What Are Dental Bridges?
Dental bridges, as the name suggests, ‘bridge’ the gap created by one or more missing teeth. They involve two or more crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap – these anchoring teeth are called ‘abutment teeth’ – and a false tooth/teeth in between. These false teeth, known as ‘pontics,’ could be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials. Dental bridges are supported by natural teeth or implants.
Types of Dental Bridges
There are four major types of dental bridges: traditional, cantilever, Maryland, and implant-supported. The right type for you depends on the health of your teeth, the location of the missing tooth, and your budget.
Installing Dental Bridges
The process of installing dental bridges involves several steps. It begins with preparing the abutment teeth, which involves re-contouring these teeth by removing a portion of enamel to allow room for a crown to be placed over them. Impressions of the teeth are made, which serve as a model from which the bridge, pontic, and crowns will be made by a dental lab. Your dentist will make a temporary bridge to wear to protect the exposed teeth and gums while your bridge is being made.
Benefits Of Dental Bridges
Dental bridges bring numerous benefits. They help maintain the shape of your face, restore your ability to properly chew and speak, prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position, and of course, restore your smile.
Comparison Table
| Type of Bridge | Description | Best For |
| Traditional | Made of ceramics or porcelain fused to metal, these bridges involve creating a crown for the tooth or implant on either side of the missing tooth, with a pontic in between. | Patients with natural teeth on both sides of the gap created by the missing tooth. |
| Cantilever | Cantilever bridges are used when there are adjacent teeth on only one side of the missing tooth or teeth. | Situations where there are only teeth on one side of the missing tooth or teeth. |
| Maryland | Maryland bonded bridges (also called a resin-bonded bridge or a Maryland bridge) are made of plastic teeth and gums supported by a metal framework. Metal wings on each side of the bridge are bonded to your existing teeth. | Patients with strong existing front teeth, without large fillings. |
| Implant-Supported | Implant-supported bridges use dental implants as opposed to crowns or frameworks. Typically, one implant is surgically placed for every missing tooth, and these implants hold the bridge in position. | Where several teeth in a row are missing. |
