Dental Bridges

Dental Bridges: Time-Tested Tooth Replacement Options

A missing tooth mars the appearance of your smile, and the gap lets other teeth shift out of position. Missing teeth hinder clear speech, keep you from enjoying a well-rounded diet, and contribute to bone loss. While other tooth replacement options are available, you may find that you are not a suitable candidate for these, or maybe, in your situation, a conventional dental bridge makes good sense. The dentists at Calgary Dental Centers in Calgary, Alberta, are experienced in this restorative technique.

Types of Dental Bridges

One missing tooth can be replaced with a dental bridge or up to four teeth in a row (depending on the area of the mouth).

Traditional Bridge – Teeth on either side of the gap are reduced. Impressions are taken to fabricate a bridge. The bridge unit consists of crowns that fit over the prepared teeth to hold a pontic (artificial tooth) in between. Traditional bridges may be made of all ceramic or porcelain-fused-to-metal.

Maryland Bonded Bridge – A Maryland bridge consists of an artificial tooth with wings on either side. These wings are bonded to the back surfaces of adjacent teeth to keep the bridge in place. A Maryland bridge may be made of resin with metal or porcelain framework, porcelain-fused-to-metal, or all porcelain.

Cantilever Bridge – This design uses only one crown to hold the bridge in place. It is useful in some situations but can put unusual stress on teeth.

You don’t have to live with a gap in your smile. Schedule a consultation to learn more about dental bridges at Calgary Dental Centers. We can be reached at (403) 768-1339.