If you’re missing a few or several of your teeth, our dentists in Harriston, ON may recommend getting dental bridges. A dental bridge consists of pontic teeth supported by adjacent teeth via dental crowns. Bridges in Harriston, ON are often recommended as alternatives to partial dentures.
Harriston Family Dentistry is a leading dental office that’s well-versed in restorative dentistry, including bridges near you. So, if you’d like to rebuild your smile after tooth loss, we welcome you to book an appointment with our dentists for a thorough consultation.
There are four different bridges: conventional bridges, Maryland-bonded bridges, cantilever bridges and implant-supported bridges.
A traditional bridge is supported by two teeth, each on either side of the tooth gap. To get a traditional bridge, you require at least two healthy teeth adjacent to the missing tooth. These teeth are then reshaped and fitted with custom dental crowns, which form part of the dental bridge. The pontic or replacement teeth are suspended between these two crowns.
A Maryland bridge is also supported by two teeth. However, instead of using dental crowns, a Maryland bridge relies on a framework of metal or porcelain wings for support. These wings are attached to the underside of the adjacent teeth. Unlike conventional bridges, Maryland bridges don’t require extensive enamel reshaping. Instead, our dentists near you gently etch the underside of the anchor teeth before bonding the porcelain or metal wings in place.
A cantilever bridge is anchored by a single tooth. Cantilever bridges are preferable when there’s only one healthy tooth adjacent to the missing tooth gap. However, a cantilever bridge may not be ideal for replacing the back teeth, as it can exert excessive pressure on a single tooth.
If you’d like to replace missing teeth using dental bridges but lack healthy anchor teeth, our dentists in Harriston, ON may suggest getting implant-supported bridges. These are anchored by artificial tooth roots or implants. Implant-retained bridges are advantageous because they don’t involve trimming enamel off healthy teeth. In addition, implants stimulate bone tissue, preventing bone atrophy.
Some key advantages of dental bridges include:
If you’re looking to close the gaps in your smile using dental bridges in Harriston, ON, please call Harriston Family Dentistry today.