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Dental Bridges

Dental bridges literally bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth.

A bridge is made up of two crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap. These false teeth are called pontics and can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials. Dental bridges are supported by natural teeth or implants.

Bridges can:

• Restore smile.
• Restore the ability to properly chew and speak.
• Maintain the shape of the face.
• Distribute the forces in the bite properly by replacing missing teeth.
• Prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position.

There are three main types of dental bridges:

• Traditional bridges: involve creating a crown for the tooth or implant on either side of the missing tooth, with a pontic in between. Traditional bridges are the most common type of bridge and are made of either porcelain fused to metal or ceramics.
• Cantilever bridges: are used when there are adjacent teeth on only one side of the missing tooth or teeth.
• 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.

The cost of dental bridges varies depending on the type of bridge selected and the area of the country in which the procedure is performed. Dental insurance will typically pay a percentage of the fee depending on the individual dental plan.