Dental bridges

Dental bridges: Calgary dentists offer time-tested tooth replacement option

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. Dental implants are the preferred solution for many patients, but for those who are not good candidates or just don’t want implants, conventional dental bridges make good sense. The dentists at Calgary Dental Centers 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 of uses only one crown to hold the bridge in place. It is useful in some situations, but can put unusual stress on teeth.

Implant-supported bridge – If you have several consecutive missing teeth with insufficient bone at the center of the span, an implant-supported bridge may be a good choice. It is similar to a traditional bridge, but is anchored to crown restorations on dental implants. This avoids the need to reduce healthy, natural teeth for crowns.

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. The number is (403) 768-1339.