4 Types of Dental Bridges in Dentistry

Tooth restorations are a big part of the tasks that cosmetic dentists in Markham handle. Every day, there is a patient somewhere that requires a fix for their teeth. While dentists delight in what they do, they cannot do it without the help of dental appliances. In dentistry, several devices are incorporated in tooth restoration to realize the desired goals. A big part of these processes has to do with dental bridges. Over the years, bridges have grown to be reliable and effective for tooth restorations.

What Are Dental Bridges?

They are oral devices used to replace missing teeth. Think of them as the classic artificial tooth you require to fill in the space of the lost teeth. However, a dental bridge has other elements in it that allow the artificial replacement tooth to remain in the location of placement.

A typical dental bridge can be described as having a replacement tooth and two dental crowns. However, as you will learn from this text, tooth bridges come in different designs, ensuring that every patient has something that would work for them.

Types of Dental Bridges

Ideally, there are three main types of dental bridges and one exceptional one. The types are:

• Traditional bridges – it is by far the most common type of dental bridge in dentistry. It features an artificial replacement tooth called a pontic, and two dental crowns. Technically, the dental crowns are only there to hold the pontic in place, which is why it is usually sandwiched between the two dental crowns. It means that this type of dental bridge can replace a single missing tooth, ideally one positioned between two healthy natural teeth. This type has been relied on for years because of the among of strength it presents. Having that it is supported by two dental crowns, it makes for a very strong dental bridge. This also makes it perfect for use in the back teeth that are in constant pressure of chewing food.
• Cantilever bridge – when traditional bridges are not in use, dentists will grab onto cantilever bridges. They are a lot similar to traditional bridges in design. The only difference, however, is that this type of bridge only comes with one dental crown. Ideally, you only need to have one adjacent tooth that will support the crown. This makes it possible to replace two missing teeth in a row, as long as there is one natural tooth on the side to support the pontic. As you can expect, this type of bridge is not as stable and strong as the traditional bridge but is a second close.
• Maryland bonded bridges – this is not exactly popular in teeth replacement. It is unconventional in the sense that a metal framework replaces the use of dental crowns in a dental bridge. The type of bridge comes with an artificial tooth and metal wires that are bonded to the porcelain as the support. This makes them more ideal for front tooth replacement than for the back teeth.
• Implant-supported bridges – do you ever wonder why people say they have a fixed bridge in place? This is because they have Implant-supported bridges. The dentist in Markham will have you take two procedures for teeth replacement, the first one being dental implants. An implant is placed in your jawbone to act as the support for the artificial tooth and the dental bridge. This gives you a permanent tooth replacement alternative that will serve you a lot longer than other types of bridges.

Should You Try Dental Bridges?

We all know that you are never fully dressed without your smile. Therefore, if losing a tooth is going to hold you back from sharing your smile with the world, you should invest in a tooth replacement procedure. While there are many other procedures for replacing teeth, dental bridges are worth trying out for the following reasons:

• Relatively non-invasive procedure – no surgery is involved in getting a dental bridge.
• Cosmetic benefit – the porcelain material used to make dental bridges can be color-matched to the color of your natural teeth. The result is a beautiful dental bridge that closely resembles your natural teeth in color, glare, and finish.
• They last long – typical dental bridges last between 5-10 years or more than a decade with proper care.
• Perfect fit – dental bridges are designed based on the impressions of your mouth.