Dental Bridges

Dental bridges are used to “bridge the gap” created by one or more missing teeth. A dental bridge is made up of two porcelain crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap—these two anchoring teeth are called abutment teeth—and a false tooth (or teeth) in between. The false teeth are called pontics and can be made from alloys, porcelain, gold or any combination of these metals. Your natural teeth and implants support dental bridges. It can be very noticeable when a tooth is missing in your smile. Dr. Tejas Patel and the dental team at The Center of Cosmetic & General Dentistry in Austin, Texas will use dental bridges to give you a natural-looking, healthier smile in no time at all.

Who Needs a Dental Bridge?

If you lost a tooth, a dental bridge may be a good choice fill the gap in your smile. Dental bridges use the teeth that surround the gap as support while filling in for a missing tooth.

There are three kinds of dental bridges. You and Dr. Patel will choose which type meets your needs best. The three types of dental bridges are:

1. Fixed bridges
2. Bonded bridges
3. Cantilever bridges

Fixed Dental Bridges

A fixed dental bridge uses the two teeth on either side of your gap to anchor the pontic. Porcelain crowns are bonded to the adjacent teeth with a pontic between them that replaces your missing tooth. Fixed dental bridges require the teeth adjoining your gap to be shaped in order to fit the crowns, but they are the strongest type of bridge.

Bonded Dental Bridges

If your gap is in an area of your smile that is not under a lot of chewing stress, such as among your front teeth, Dr. Patel may recommend a bonded dental bridge. This type of bridge does not require porcelain crowns. Instead, the pontic is held in place using two metal wings that are bonded to the back of the teeth on either side of your gap.

Though a bonded bridge is not as strong as a fixed bridge, it requires less work on your existing teeth. Your teeth must be strong and healthy in order to support a bonded bridge.

Cantilever Bridges

Cantilever bridges, much like bonded bridges, are most often used only in an area of the mouth that does not bear much stress. Dr. Patel uses a cantilever bridge when there is only a natural tooth on one side of your gap. Unlike fixed and bonded bridges, cantilever bridges rely on one natural tooth or teeth on one side of a gap to support your pontic.

The Benefits

Dental bridges can:

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

A dental bridge looks natural, just as porcelain crowns and porcelain veneers look natural. The pontic and any crowns that are used in your dental bridge are made out of porcelain, which looks very similar to your natural enamel. And Dr. Patel chooses a shade of porcelain that matches your other teeth, so your dental bridge fits right into your natural smile.