Types of Dental Bridges Q&A

Depending on your oral health, the placement of your teeth and bite, and your unique medical needs, your dentist may suggest certain types of bridges. The most common options are:

• Traditional fixed bridge
This is the most common, requiring two or more crowns to be connected to the filler tooth. These traditional bridges are made up of metal, gold, alloys, or porcelain.

• Cantilever bridge
. This type of bridge requires the pontic (replacement tooth) to be connected to only one natural tooth. This is often suggested for patients that have teeth available on only one side of the gap.

• Resin-bonded bridge
This is often recommended if you have missing front teeth. This type of bridge is made of porcelain and is adhered to metal or ceramic teeth. This type of replacement is winged so that it can be attached to existing teeth.

• Implant-supported bridge
Implants hold the fake tooth in place instead of traditional cementing.

Before your appointment, Dr. Victoria Vuong, DDS & Dr. Henry Chang, DDS will do a full examination of your mouth and treat any tooth decay or gum disease. They will also likely be given an X-ray so that your dentist has more information going into your procedure.
 
Following this, your teeth and mouth will then be measured and checked. This is done to make sure that the teeth that are going to be surrounding your bridge are healthy and strong enough to support it.
 
During the dental bridge procedure itself, a crown will be placed on the teeth surrounding the gap. These crowns are then cemented to another crown, also known as the pontic, which acts as the replacement tooth.
 
In some cases, you may receive a temporary bridge while your permanent one is being constructed. For this reason, it can take 2-3 appointments for the procedure to actually be complete.

There are many benefits that coincide with getting a dental bridge, including:
 
• Restoring your confidence by improving the look of your smile.
• Getting a replacement tooth that mimics your natural teeth.
• Restoring your ability to speak.
• Improving your bite.
• Helping to maintain your facial structure.
• Improving your ability to chew.
• Preventing your teeth from shifting over time.
• Preventing teeth from becoming crooked.
• Preventing teeth from becoming crowded.
 
While there are plenty of pros to getting a dental bridge, there are also some cons to be aware of. If your surrounding teeth become decayed or suffer trauma, it can weaken your bridge. Similarly, if your abutment teeth aren’t sturdy enough to support a bridge, it can cause them to break or fracture. Bridges and the surrounding teeth can also become inflamed or infected if they’re not cleaned properly via regular oral hygiene.

Your dental practitioner will go over the ways to properly care for your dental bridge and it’s important to follow their aftercare instructions to best maintain it over the years. To keep your bridge in good condition and to avoid an early replacement, ensure that you are:

• Brushing and flossing daily.
• Use gentle fluoride toothpaste.
• Use floss threaders to clean the underside of your bridge.
• Avoid extremely hard, crunchy, or chewy foods.
• Avoid chewing non-food items (such as pens and fingernails).
• Schedule regular cleanings with your dentist.

At Selective Dental, we offer comprehensive dental treatment to fit your unique needs. Contact us today for more information about our dental bridge services or book in online to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists at your earliest convenience. We serve patients from all over Santa Clara County CA: San Jose, Milpitas, Santa Clara, Campbell, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Saratoga, Los Gatos, and beyond!