Bridges are lightweight replacement teeth that are anchored to your natural teeth (abutments) via dental crowns or metal wings. It can be hard to visualize what that looks like, so let’s get into the different kinds of bridges to help you get a better picture.

Types of Dental Bridges

Dental bridges are so versatile because they can work in a variety of situations. Our dentist will assess the health of your gums, the location of the missing tooth, your jaw’s bone density, and your personal preferences to decide which kind of bridge is right for you.

• Traditional fixed bridges. Fixed bridges are best when the missing teeth are positioned between healthy teeth on both sides of the gap. The abutment teeth (the existing natural teeth) are ground down and fitted to a custom crown. The replacement tooth or teeth are affixed to the dental crowns, so they are all in one piece.
• Cantilever bridges. If your missing tooth cannot be anchored by an abutment tooth on both sides, it can be anchored by one or two teeth on just one side.
• Maryland bonded bridges. These replacement teeth are bonded to the backs of adjacent teeth with metal or porcelain wings. This type of bridge is best for front teeth or teeth that are positioned next to other restorations such as crowns.
• Implant-supported bridges. These more permanent bridges are a hybrid between implants and bridges. Posts are implanted on both sides of a large gap, so the bridge teeth are supported by the dental implants, not natural teeth.