What Are Dental Bridges Made Of And How Are Dental Bridges Attached ?

People lose their teeth due to accidents, unwise extractions or gum disease. When a tooth goes missing, gaps form between the remaining teeth in the jawbone, which affects a person’s self-esteem and confidence. Now here is the good news – your dentist can actually fix those unsightly gaps between your teeth. If you have missing teeth, your dentist can use a bridge to close up the gaps. From the outside, the dental bridge will appear exactly like a tooth. Let’s take a look at what dental bridges are, what they are made of and how they are attached to your jawbone.

What Are Dental Bridges

A dental bridge is the ideal solution to eliminate gaps in your teeth. Usually, two or more crowns are used to create false teeth on either side of a gap. Abutment teeth, or tooth anchors are used to support false teeth in between, called pontics. Pontics can be made of porcelain, gold various alloys or even unique combinations of all three materials.

Types Of Dental Bridges And What Dental Bridge Type Is Best For Me

As of now, you can choose from the following five main types of dental bridges:

Traditional Dental Bridges

Best suited for: Patients who have two healthy teeth on the side of the dental gap.

What is it : This bridge consists of two abutments (the teeth supporting the bridge), on which dental crowns are cemented. This type of bridge is probably the most popular type; it works best when you have good natural teeth on both sides of the dental gap that you are trying to fix using a dental bridge.

Cost: You’ll be spending about $2,000 – $5,000 for a single crown and pontic for each abutment tooth, called 3 unit bridge.

Cantilever Dental Bridges

Best suited for: Patients with only one healthy tooth on one side of the dental gap, usually more fit for missing teeth with less loading force like front teeth or small missing back teeth.

What is it  : The bridge is anchored by a dental crown, which is in turn cemented to a single abutment tooth. Cantilever bridges cannot handle too much pressure on them and are therefore not recommended for placement at the back of the mouth.

Cost: Each abutment tooth with its pontic and crown will cost you $2,000 to $3,000.

Made of: These bridges are made of porcelain, at times fused to metal or ceramics and recently glass combinations.

Maryland Dental Bridges

Best suited for: Patients with two healthy teeth on either side of the dental gap. 

What is it   : Maryland bridges are kind of similar to traditional bridges; two natural abutment teeth are required on either side of the dental gap. The difference is that instead of a crown, a Maryland bridge bonds a metal or porcelain framework to the backs of the abutment teeth.

Made of: Maryland bridges are usually made of the following materials:

• Porcelain fused to metal
• Plain porcelain
• A metal or porcelain framework supporting plastic teeth and gums
• Porcelain or metal wings bonded to one side of natural teeth.
• glass and plastic combination, one component material Maryland bridge, ie the wings and the pontic tooth are all one unit

Implant-Supported Dental Bridges

Best suited for: Patients who do not have any supporting natural teeth on the sides of the dental gap.

What is it: Dental implants are directly embedded into the jawbone, to help hold the bridge in position. If it isn’t possible to surgically place one implant for each missing tooth, a pontic is suspended between two implant-supported crowns in the bridge. This method is probably the most stable and most secure system. You will require two phases – phase one  to surgically place the  implants in your jaw bone, and a second phase is  to fix the dental bridge on to the implants.

Cost: If you opt for an implant-supported bridge, you could spend about $5,000 – $15,000 for a bridge. This cost will cover two dental implants that can support three or four teeth in your jawbone.

Made of: Implant-supported bridges are made of porcelain, and look and feel just like your surrounding natural teeth.

Composite Dental Bridges

Best suited for: Patients who have two or less missing teeth.

What is it: Composite bridges are usually made and installed in a single dental visit. A composite bonding material is filled into the gap left by the missing teeth. A dense plastic mixed with glass  tooth filling material is used by the dentist to artistically create a new tooth. The new teeth can chip or de-bond over time, which is why a reinforced wire or ribbon is (Ribbond) is used to support the composite bridge. A composite bridge is considered temporary, and is a good solution for people with periodontal disease who don’t get their damaged teeth removed on time, also can be a good transition for people who can’t afford the permanent bridge yet.

Cost: Composite bridges offer the cheapest solution to missing teeth, at $700 – $2,300 a tooth.

Made of: Bonded resin/glass material.

Summary

Always consult a qualified and experienced dentist for your dental bridge needs. Your dentist will evaluate your case, your budget and your immediate needs and offer you the best solution.

Platinum Dental Care is the most trusted source to get dental bridges at affordable prices in Livonia, Michigan and other surrounding areas. Call us at (734) 522-5520 to schedule your free initial dental consultation.