Of the types of dental bridges that exist, there are about three main choices. They all have a common purpose, which is to replace one or more missing teeth for you. Each is useful in certain situations.
First up is traditional bridges. They are built with a pontic that is attached to two dental crowns. Pontic is the technical term for the artificial tooth that replaces the missing one. The bridge works by attaching the crowns on the two teeth that stand next to the empty gap, and the pontic hovers over the empty gap. The bridge can remain firmly anchored and hold surrounding teeth in place so they do not shift out of position, which can happen when a tooth goes missing.
Next up is the cantilever bridge. The cantilever is very similar to the traditional bridge. The only big difference is that a cantilever uses one crown and not two. Sometimes a traditional bridge cannot work because only one natural tooth can be used to anchor it. This is where a cantilever can come in handy.
The last type of dental bridge is the maryland. The maryland is very different from its counterparts. Instead of using crowns, the pontic uses metal frames to attach to the adjacent teeth. They can require less extensive work, but they are not generally as strong as the other types. They can be useful for replacing front teeth, where the bite force is generally not as strong.
If you have need to replace a few teeth and would like to know what type of bridge can work best for you, you are welcome to visit our office in Los Alamos, New Mexico. You can talk with our dentist, Dr. Rachel Meyer, to gather more information on your options. You can reach us easily by calling 505-662-3163.