Designed to replace a missing tooth, a dental bridge can help a patient to bite, chew, and speak normally, while also keeping the structure intact. Most bridges fall into one of three categories, the most popular of which is the traditional bridge.
The traditional bridge includes a false tooth, known as a pontic, which is made of ceramic or porcelain. Crowns on either side of the pontic serve to attach it to the adjacent teeth, thus fixing the bridge in place.
The Maryland bridge, meanwhile, can also involve bilateral securing of the tooth, though this option does not require reinforcing of the adjacent teeth. Instead, wing-like structures on either side of the pontic attach to the adjacent teeth via a special dental cement.
In some cases, a patient who has a tooth only on one side of the pontic may receive a cantilever bridge. Cantilevers feature a crown on only one side of the replacement tooth and are thus less stable than the traditional bridge. For this reason, they are less commonly used and are typically only recommended for the front of the mouth.
For more information, reach out to Dr. Garcia at 505-821-6119 or through his website, www.roderickgarciadmd.com.