Dental bridges are a restorative dentistry procedure used to literally “bridge” the gap in a smile that was left by missing teeth. Regardless of your reason for tooth loss, dental bridges could be the solution that will repair your ability to speak, eat, and smile normally again! Depending on the specific circumstances with the health of your teeth and gums, a certain type of dental bridge may need to be used. In this article, we’ll talk about the four common types of dental bridges and how they are all slightly different from each other! If you have any questions about dental bridges or are a resident of the Southern Maine region that is looking into a restorative dentistry procedure, contact our team at Gentle Dental Maine today to schedule an appointment at one of our offices!
Traditional Dental Bridges
Traditional dental bridges are typically used when the teeth on either side of the gap that needs to be bridged are healthy. These types of dental bridges consist of two dental crowns that go on top of the healthy teeth on both sides of the gap, connected by one or more artificial teeth that sit within the gap. Like all types of dental bridges, traditional bridges are customized to match each individual patient’s normal teeth, so they look as natural as possible!
Implant Supported Dental Bridges
Implant supported dental bridges are, as their name would suggest, supported by dental implants. Dental implants consist of a metal post that is connected to the jawbone in order to replace the natural roots of a tooth. An implant-supported bridge will connect to this post in situations where the natural teeth surrounding the gap are not in good enough condition to support the bridge on their own.
Maryland Bonded Dental Bridges
Maryland bonded bridges are used in similar situations to traditional bridges, but their main difference is that Maryland bridges use a metal framework attached to the surrounding natural teeth in order to support the bridge, rather than dental crowns. Maryland dental bridges are the ideal option for patients who do not want to have their natural teeth changed, which is necessary in order to put dental crowns on them.
Cantilever Dental Bridges
Cantilever dental bridges are different from traditional bridges because they only use one natural tooth for support rather than two. Cantilever bridges are typically less expensive than traditional bridges because they only require the placement of one crown on an adjacent tooth, but this also makes them less durable. Cantilever dental bridges are typically used for gaps close to the front of the mouth.
Contact Gentle Dental Maine!
If you have any questions about dental bridges or any other restorative dentistry procedure, please don’t hesitate to contact our team at Gentle Dental Maine! We provide general, cosmetic, restorative, and emergency dentistry solutions to our patients at each of our offices in South Portland, Biddeford, and Topsham! Give us a call at any one of our offices, or if you’re not yet a patient with us, please fill out patient forms on our website!