A dental bridge is a dental restoration that is used to “bridge” a gap between teeth. The gap is created by teeth that are missing or when damaged teeth are extracted. The bridgework is made up of a series of prosthetic teeth that are fused together and supported by an anchor. The Stein Center for Advanced Dentistry is proud to offer many types of dental bridges to help patients, efficiently replacing their missing teeth. The bridge will be fabricated to fit precisely in your mouth and color matched to blend in naturally with your remaining, natural teeth.
Dr. Abraham Stein is a restorative dentist in Skokie, IL that has 3 years of additional training in prosthodontics. He has placed many dental bridges to help patients restore their smiles. Dr. Stein welcomes patients from Evanston, IL who are missing teeth and are considering a dental bridge.
Traditional Bridge Procedure
Types of Dental Bridges We Offer
Traditional Bridge
If you are missing one or two consecutive, Dr. Stein or Dr. Weiss may recommend replacing them with a traditional dental bridge. This fixed dental restoration is made up of a series of fake teeth with a dental crown at each end and the replacement teeth (the pontics) in between them. The two dental crowns are anchored to the teeth that are adjacent to the gap. These anchor teeth need to be prepared and will need to be grinded down to accommodate the crowns. This places extra stress on these teeth which can lead to further damage or cavity formation.
Cantilever Bridge
Similar to a traditional dental bridge, a cantilever bridge is only anchored to one tooth instead of two. It is not as stable for this reason and is not used very often. Dr. Stein or Dr. Weiss will not use this type of bridge to replace back teeth since there is too much force and pressure required for those teeth.
A cantilever bridge applies a lot of extra force to the one anchor tooth leading to a lot of stress and possible damage. This tooth replacement option is appropriate for a missing front tooth. If placed safely and properly, this type of dental bridge can save you a lot of time and money.
Implant-Supported Dental Bridge
Maryland Bridge
A Maryland dental bridge can also replace a tooth but instead uses a different method to hold it in place. Instead of preparing the two adjacent by grinding them down, the bridge uses thin metal wings that are attached to the back of the adjacent teeth to secure it. This option is more affordable and does not require the adjacent teeth to be significantly reduced. However, it will still place stress on those teeth. How durable a maryland dental bridge is depends on the adhesive used to secure the framework to the adjacent teeth.
Implant-Supported Bridge
Whenever possible, Dr. Stein or Dr. Weiss will recommend an implant-supported dental bridge for patients missing two or more consecutive missing teeth. Our Evanston, IL area dentist office offers full-service dental implants, the number one solution for missing teeth. The bridge is supported by two or more dental implants that have been surgically placed in the jaw bone. The implants will act as anchors to hold the bridge in place giving you new teeth that are just as stable and durable as natural teeth.
This type of bridge is better for your oral health because it does not place extra stress on healthy teeth or require that any teeth be grinded down. An implant will replace a tooth root which will stimulate the jaw bone. This promotes continued bone growth in the jaw which prevents bone loss and gum recession often seen with traditional bridges.