3 Types of Bridges: Which One Is Best for You? 

According to the American Dental Association, the average adult age 20-64 has three or more decayed or missing teeth. If you’re among those who’ve lost a tooth, you already know the drawbacks of living without a full set of teeth. 

At Preva Dental in San Antonio, Texas, Dr. Prathima Rasamsetty and her team understand that you may be uncomfortable with your appearance when you’re missing teeth. Along with that discomfort, missing teeth can also compromise your dental health, which is why Dr. Rasamsetty offers several types of restorative dentistry. One flexible option is a dental bridge. 

Disadvantages of missing teeth

Living with missing teeth can have a real impact on your quality of life. Here are a few common issues if you’re missing teeth: 

• Difficulty chewing
• Problems speaking
• Embarrassment
• Shifting of your remaining teeth
• Problems with oral hygiene

Dental bridges are a simple and effective solution to fill the tooth gap and correct these issues. 

Different types of bridges

Three types of dental bridges are available, and the best one for you depends on your overall oral health, your medical history, your lifestyle, and your personal preferences. Here is how the three different bridges work.

1. The traditional bridge

A bridge does just what the name implies — it “bridges” the gap between two teeth when one or more teeth are missing between them. Custom-made artificial teeth, called pontics, are affixed between two healthy teeth, called abutment teeth, which serve as anchors. 

A fixed bridge is the most common type of dental bridge. Dr. Rasamsetty places a crown on each abutment tooth to support the bridge. The bridge is made of porcelain fused to ceramic or metal, and it’s safe to use anywhere in your mouth. 

2. Cantilever bridge

A cantilever bridge differs from a traditional bridge in that it’s anchored on only one side of the gap. Even so, it provides a similar amount of support. A cantilever bridge is usually made of ceramic or metal or a combination of ceramic and metal. 

This type of dental bridge is used in areas where the gums and surrounding tissues are healthy. It’s often used to replace a missing front tooth, and it can blend in seamlessly with your existing teeth. A cantilever bridge isn’t as functional for replacing molars in the back of your mouth where the force exerted when you chew is stronger. 

3. Resin-bonded bridge

Sometimes referred to as a Maryland bridge, a resin-bonded bridge is appropriate for replacing a single missing tooth, usually in the front of your mouth. The difference in the resin-bonded bridge and other types is related to how it’s affixed to your adjacent teeth. 

Instead of using crowns to connect on either side of the gap, a resin-bonded bridge uses a more conservative approach. Its structure is a bit like a bird in flight: The false tooth sits in the center, and two wings reach out to either side. 

Metal forms the wings and the framework of the bridge. The pontic is ceramic so it looks like a natural tooth. Composite resin creates a durable bond to attach the wings to the anchor teeth. 

Benefits of dental bridges

Regardless of whether you have a traditional bridge, a cantilever bridge, or a resin-bonded bridge, it should last 15 years or longer. The location of the bridge in your mouth and your oral hygiene habits make a difference in how long a bridge lasts. It’s important to keep up with daily brushing and flossing and taking excellent care of the natural teeth that support your bridge. 

It may take a short adjustment period to get used to your dental bridge, but it will feel like your natural teeth over time as you speak, smile, and chew. You can enjoy all of the benefits of normal function, though you should avoid eating especially sticky or hard foods. 

If you’d like to learn more about dental bridges and find out which option would be the best tooth replacement choice for you, schedule an appointment at Preva Dental. We’re always happy to answer your questions.