The traditional bridge is probably the type you’ve heard about most. It uses a false tooth called a pontic, which sits in the gap. Dental crowns hold that tooth in place by covering the teeth next to the space.<\/p>\r\n
This design works particularly well when you have healthy teeth on both sides of the missing tooth. Those teeth provide the support the bridge needs, although they usually need to be prepared so the crowns can fit over them.<\/p>\r\n
Say you’ve lost a molar and still have a strong tooth sitting on either side of the gap. A traditional bridge makes sense here because there are two solid points of support. It feels stable once you’re used to it, and you don’t have to remove it like a denture.<\/p>\r\n
Things get a little different when there’s only one suitable tooth beside the gap. That’s where a cantilever bridge comes in. Instead of being supported on both sides, the replacement tooth is attached to a crown that sits on one supporting tooth.<\/p>\r\n
Because all the support comes from one side, placement matters. A cantilever bridge isn’t ideal for every location in the mouth, especially where strong biting forces are involved. Your dentist needs to look closely at the bite before choosing it.<\/p>\r\n
A Maryland bridge takes a different route. Instead of placing crowns over the neighboring teeth, the replacement tooth has small wings that attach to the back surfaces of nearby teeth.<\/p>\r\n
That means less alteration of the neighboring teeth, which is a pretty appealing feature. The trade-off is that Maryland bridges don’t suit every situation, particularly areas where heavy chewing pressure is expected.<\/p>\r\n
They are often considered for replacing front teeth because those teeth usually deal with less chewing force than back teeth. Appearance matters here too, since the bridge can be designed to blend with the surrounding teeth.<\/p>\r\n
Implant-supported bridges don’t rely on natural teeth for their main support. Instead, dental implants are placed in the jaw and the bridge is attached to them.<\/p>\r\n
This approach is especially useful when several teeth are missing beside each other. One implant can sometimes support part of a bridge, depending on the treatment plan and the amount of support available.<\/p>\r\n
\u2022 Traditional bridges use neighboring teeth for support, making them a familiar choice when those teeth are strong enough.<\/p>\r\n
\u2022 Cantilever bridges sit on one side of the gap only, so the location and biting pressure really matter here.<\/p>\r\n
\u2022 Maryland bridges are less invasive for nearby teeth, which is one reason they’re often considered for front-tooth replacement.<\/p>\r\n
\u2022 Implant-supported bridges rely on implants rather than crowns placed over natural teeth, and that changes the whole treatment process.<\/p>\r\n
\u2022 The right design depends heavily on your mouth, not just the number of teeth you’ve lost. That part gets overlooked surprisingly often.<\/p>\r\n
A bridge should fit your actual bite rather than simply fill an empty space. Your dentist will check the supporting teeth, the position of the gap, and how your upper and lower teeth meet before deciding which design makes sense.<\/p>\r\n
Visit our page on composite bonding London<\/strong><\/a> to explore treatment options, costs, and expert advice.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"