Bridges help to fill in gaps where teeth are no longer present. If you have lost teeth or have had teeth removed, a bridge is important not only to preserve a beautiful smile, but also to prevent biting problems, shifting of the teeth, jaw problems, and even periodontal disease. If you need bridges, you and your dentist can choose from three different types of bridges:

 

1) "Maryland" bridges. This sort of bridge involves a filler which is attached to metal bands. The bands are attached to the teeth on either side of a gap and the bands are disguised using a tooth-colored composite resin. These bridges can disguise gaps quite naturally, which is why they are often used to replace front teeth.

 

2) Fixed bridge. This sort of bridge involves a filler tooth which is attached to two crowns. The bridge fits over the teeth on either side of the gap. This is the most commonly used sort of bridge.

 

3) Cantilever bridge. In cases where there are teeth only on one side of a gap, the Cantilever bridge is used. In this type of bridge, two crowned teeth are connected to a filler tooth.