If you have missing teeth, we can close (or bridge) the gap in your smile with a dental bridge. A dental bridge is a false pontic tooth, typically held in place by the teeth on either side of the gap or opening. Today, most bridges are made from porcelain to aesthetically blend in with your natural teeth.
Traditional dental bridges consist of a false tooth or teeth held in place by dental crowns that have been cemented to teeth on each side of the space or gap. A traditional bridge is the most popular type of bridge and can be used when you have natural teeth on both sides of the gap created by your missing tooth.
Similar to a traditional bridge, the pontic within a cantilever bridge is held in place by a dental crown cemented to only one adjacent support tooth. For a cantilever bridge, you only need one natural tooth next to the missing tooth gap.
Again, similar to a traditional dental bridge, Maryland dental bridges employ two natural teeth, one on each side of the gap. However, while a traditional bridge uses dental crowns on the supportive teeth, A Maryland Bridge uses a framework of either metal or porcelain that is bonded onto the backs of the supportive teeth and can only be used when you have a natural tooth on each side of the gap caused by the missing tooth or teeth.
Implant-supported bridges use dental implants as opposed to crowns or framework. Typically, one implant is surgically placed for every missing tooth, and these implants old the bridge in place. If one implant for each missing tooth isn’t possible, the bridge may have a pontic suspended between two implant-supported crowns.
Implant-supported bridges are considered the strongest and most stable system, typically requiring two surgeries with time to heal in-between. One surgery to embed the implant in the jawbone and a second surgery to place the bridge. These types of bridges may require several months to complete.
If you are missing a tooth, or a number of teeth, you have different replacement options to consider. Please contact us to schedule an appointment – We’re excited to meet you, and give you the best possible dental care in Des Moines!
