I Think I May Need A Dental Bridge!
Sometimes we take our teeth for granted. When your middle-aged, and you've taken good care of your teeth, and you've never had a problem, that can be easy to do. Then suddenly something happens. You bite into a sandwich and your tooth breaks. Now what? Or, maybe you're a grinder and one of your teeth has become loose because of it. You just never know what might happen or when. Although teeth are meant to last a lifetime, that doesn't mean they all will, and sometimes it is through no fault of your own. If you think you may need a dental bridge because you lost a tooth, or need a tooth pulled, here are some options.
Types of Dental Bridges
There are three types of dental bridges. The bridge architecture will depend upon what tooth you are replacing.
Traditional bridge: A traditional bridge consists of a pontic (false tooth) that is placed in-between two crowns. The crowns on either side of the pontic are bonded to the natural teeth on either side of the missing tooth. That means that the two adjacent teeth will be ground down so the crown will fit over them. Once bonded the bridge can only be removed by a dentist.
Maryland bridge: A Maryland bridge (named after the state of Maryland where it was developed) consists of a pontic with a metal wing on each side. The metal wings are attached to the natural teeth on either side of the gap left by the missing tooth.
Cantilever bridge: Cantilever bridges are used when there is only one natural tooth adjacent to the gap left by the missing tooth, as in the very back of your mouth. You may not be familiar with a cantilever bridge because they are not often used.