Dental Bridge Varieties: Four Types of Bridges Explained

Dental bridges are fixed restorations helping replace one or more missing teeth in your mouth. Mimicking the natural tooth’s appearance, shape, and functionality is the responsibility of dental bridges custom-created for every patient. If you are affected by severe tooth loss, you may need multiple dental bridges in a process called full mouth rehabilitation. Alternatively, some experienced dentists recommend dentures if you have several teeth missing.

Why May You Need Dental Bridges?

Adults between 35 and 44 have at least one missing tooth in their mouth due to gum disease, tooth decay, injuries, and unsuccessful root canals. The dentist in Vancouver recommends bridges supported by dental implants if you have dental crowns on the supporting teeth. The dentist might also advise a dental bridge if you cannot receive dental implants due to medical reasons.

You may require a dental bridge after tooth removal or loss because of severe tooth decay, trauma or injury, periodontal disease, medications, and aging.

Dental Bridges Benefits

Missing teeth in your mouth make you susceptible to the consequences of tooth loss affecting you in different ways. The remaining teeth in your mouth begin shifting towards the edentulous gap in your mouth to create a bad bite. Your teeth in the opposite jaw also move upwards or downwards towards the vacant opening. You encounter challenges eating and speaking and become prone to infections like tooth decay and gum disease because the gap in your mouth becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and food particles to remain trapped. The consequences of tooth loss compel you to consider replacement solutions either with dentures, bridges, or implants.

When you decide in favor of dental bridges near you to close the gaps between your smile, the replacements help resolve all consequences of tooth loss besides restoring your smile by giving you natural-looking artificial teeth. In addition, missing teeth can impact your self-confidence, causing you to hide your smile before everyone. Fortunately, dental bridges help restore your smile besides all the abilities you lost with your natural teeth.

Is It Easy Choosing Dental Bridges?

Trying to determine by yourself which tooth replacement solution best suits your specific needs is challenging, making it essential for you to discuss with the experienced dentists in Vancouver to determine which dental bridge best suits your needs. It helps if you understand four types of dental bridges available, each suitable for a specific situation. Let us now look at the dental Bridge varieties to understand these replacement solutions properly.

Traditional Dental Bridges

The most common types of Bridges available are traditional dental bridges. Ceramic, porcelain fused to metal, or metal help make traditional dental bridges.

Traditional bridges consist of one artificial tooth called Pontic held by two dental crowns on either side. The Vancouver dentist shapes and files the two adjacent teeth neighboring the artificial tooth when undergoing the traditional dental bridge process. The filing ensures the accommodation of the two dental crowns over the supporting teeth. Traditional dental bridges last for a long time with proper dental care because they are durable and robust.

Traditional dental bridges help restore posterior teeth like the premolars and molars.

Cantilever Dental Bridges

Cantilever dental bridges are the same as traditional dental bridges because they are made from the same materials. Cantilever dental bridges are helpful if you have merely one natural tooth next to the missing tooth. In cantilever dental bridges, dental crown placement over the unhealthy tooth on either side is essential. Cantilever bridges help restore anterior teeth and are not as durable as traditional bridges.

Maryland Bridges

If you want a non-invasive option for replacing missing teeth, you can consider Maryland Bridges, also called adhesive bridges, because of their non-invasive feature. Maryland Bridges consist of a Pontic supported by a metal framework. Porcelain helps make Maryland bridges with wings bonding to the neighboring teeth to keep the bridge stable. Currently, Maryland Bridges are available with porcelain wings instead of metal making them appear similar to the color of your natural tooth.

Implant-Supported Dental Bridges

Implant-supported dental bridges receive support entirely from dental implants instead of metal frameworks or dental crowns. Implant-supported bridges are beneficial to replace premolars and molars and are ideal for patients with at least three missing teeth in a row. However, implant-supported bridges require surgery and months of recovery before you can have tooth replacements in your mouth.

When you meet the Vancouver dentist, you can discuss different varieties of dental bridges to determine which specific option is best suited for your needs. You receive help from the dentist to choose a suitable type to help you replace your missing teeth in a couple of visits to the dentist’s office.

Decide on which type of dental bridge you want only after consultation with the dentist in Vancouver and understanding dental bridge benefits.