Floral Park Dental Excellence provides dental bridges in Floral Park, NY, and the greater Long Island area. Call 516-354-1213 to learn more and schedule an appointment.
Missing one or more teeth is common for many people.
The ADA reports that on average adult patients may have three missing or damaged teeth. Fortunately, there are a number of solutions for replacing missing teeth, including dental bridges. A bridge may be used to restore an area with one or more adjacent missing teeth. A bridge has two primary components. The abutments (or supports) for the bridge are created by placing a dental crown on either a natural tooth or a dental implant. The artificial tooth that replaces the missing tooth is called a pontic. In the case of a single tooth, the two surrounding teeth will undergo tooth preparations for crowns and the missing tooth will be replaced with a synthetic tooth that is connected to the crowns on either side of the missing tooth. In the case of several adjacent natural teeth missing, one or more dental implants may provide the abutment through implant placement.
There are four main types of dental bridges for missing teeth:
Traditional Dental Bridge
This is the most common type of dental bridge. The existing neighboring teeth are crowned with one or more pontics between and held in place by the crowned abutments. The custom-made crowns are cemented onto the teeth adjacent to the missing teeth to create a support structure or “bridge” for the missing teeth, restoring proper chewing function and natural beauty to your smile.
Cantilever Bridge
This type of bridge is similar to a traditional bridge, except that the structure is supported on only one side instead of both sides. This can cause the restoration to act as a “lever” and may create additional stress on the supporting tooth, causing it to be more likely to loosen or fracture.
Implant Supported Bridge
Instead of using existing teeth to support a bridge, implant supported restorations may be substituted to provide support for one or both sides of a dental bridge. This is a popular option that can provide a very secure durable solution for multiple teeth. This solution is particularly helpful when there are several adjacent teeth missing, and it helps prevent bone loss over time by preserving jawbone density.
Maryland Bridge
This type of bridge restoration is supported by a metal structure that is cemented onto the back of existing teeth. While not as strong as a traditional bridge, it can preserve the tooth structure of the adjacent teeth by avoiding the use of crowns for the abutments. It may not stay in place when heavy forces are placed on the restoration (such as biting and chewing) and does add pressure to the supporting teeth.
Contact Our Floral Park Dental Office Today
Contact our office to learn more about your restorative options and achieve the smile you have always wanted.