Dental Bridges
Dental bridges in Burnsville MN replace natural teeth that you had extracted or knocked out. This restoration draws its name from the fact that the artificial tooth bridges the gap left by your natural tooth.
What Are the Parts of a Dental Bridge?
Each dental bridge contains a pontic, which is the name for the replacement tooth, and abutments, which are the parts that hold it in place. Depending on how many consecutive natural teeth you are missing, the abutments may have multiple parts with several pontics attached to them. You may prefer this tooth replacement option if you are only missing one tooth or a few teeth or just do not want to invest in dental implants.
Types of Dental Bridges
Your dentist will recommend one of the four types of bridges described below, depending on your unique situation.
Cantilever
Cantilever dental bridges have a crown at only one end. This type is most appropriate for people who have only one nearby tooth that can support the abutments.
Implant-Supported
This type sits on top of dental implants rather than natural teeth. You need to have the implant posts installed first and then return in three to six months to have the bridge attached to them.
Maryland
Also known as a resin-bonded dental bridge, this type uses metal wings rather than crowns to secure the replacement tooth in place. The metal wings attach to the back of the nearby supporting teeth.
Traditional
The traditional model contains dental crowns on both ends with artificial teeth in between them. Your dentist uses an industry-grade adhesive to bond the crowns to the teeth on both sides of the missing tooth, and the artificial tooth sits above the gum line. You can only receive a traditional dental bridge if you have teeth on both sides of the missing tooth that are strong enough to support the abutments.
We invite you to request a consultation at your convenience to learn more about dental implants in Burnsville MN.
