Dental Bridge
Replace one or more missing teeth with a fixed bridge supported by crowns or implants.
A dental bridge fills the gap of missing teeth using crowns on the neighbouring teeth or on implants to hold replacement teeth.
Bridge vs Implant
A traditional bridge uses adjacent teeth for support; an implant avoids touching them. Your dentist advises the best option.
Materials
We craft bridges in zirconium and E-max for strength and aesthetics.
What a Bridge Costs You Structurally
A bridge spans a gap by crowning the teeth either side and suspending a false tooth (a pontic) between them. Those abutment teeth must be reduced by about 1.5–2 mm all round.
If they already need crowns, that reduction costs you nothing extra and a bridge is a sound, efficient choice. If they are healthy, you are sacrificing two teeth to replace one. That is the whole decision. See implant vs bridge.
The Bone Beneath the Pontic
Nothing loads the bone under a false tooth, so it continues to resorb. Over years this appears as a dark triangle beneath the pontic, and later as a visible dip in the gum line — most obvious in the upper front, where it matters most.
An implant transmits force into that bone and largely preserves it. This is why the bridge is a good answer to a structural question and a poor answer to a biological one.
The Types
| Type | How it works | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional | Crowns on both neighbours | Most common; most tooth removed |
| Cantilever | Supported on one side only | Higher stress; limited indications |
| Maryland (adhesive) | Wings bonded behind the neighbours | Minimal preparation; can debond |
| Implant-supported | Anchored on implants | Spares natural teeth entirely |
For a single missing front tooth in a young patient, a Maryland bridge is often the honest interim choice — it removes almost no enamel.
Longevity and Why Bridges Fail
Bridges typically last 10–15 years. They rarely fail as ceramic; they fail at the margins, where the crown meets the tooth, through decay in an abutment you can no longer floss around conventionally.
Cleaning under the pontic with superfloss or an interdental brush every day is not an optional refinement. It is the difference between fifteen years and five. See gum health.
The Question to Ask
“Do the teeth either side already need crowns?” If yes, proceed. If no, ask why an implant is not being offered, and what the bone looks like on the CT scan.
If bone or health rules out surgery, a bridge is a legitimate, well-established treatment — chosen knowingly, not by default. See missing teeth solutions.
This page provides general information and does not replace professional dental advice. Always consult a qualified dentist about your individual case.
Frequently Asked Questions
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