Losing a tooth is never a pleasant experience and the effects of the tooth loss can, however, go way beyond the cosmetic: Your speech, your bite and even the shape of your face can be significantly altered by the loss of a tooth! Not to mention the increased risk of gum disease.

The three types of Dental Bridge

This is where dental bridges come in: Bridges are essentially false teeth that are anchored onto the neighbouring teeth in order to hold them in place. Dental bridges come in three types: The traditional fixed bridge (the most common type), the resin-bonded or ‘Maryland’-bonded bridge and the cantilever bridge.

Which bridge is most appropriate tends to be determined by the health of the surrounding teeth and the size of your gap. Cantilever bridges, for example, are best used when there is a healthy tooth on only one side of the gap. This bridge is anchored to only one tooth, on one side, and so is best used on ‘low stress’ areas, such as the front teeth.

Fixed bridges, the popular ones, can be used anywhere but require crowns to be attached to the teeth on each side of the gap. The resin bonded bridges, however, do not require crowns on the surrounding teeth, which can be handy when these teeth are perfectly healthy. These types of bridge, like the cantilevers, are best suited to areas, such as the front teeth, as there is less stress upon the teeth.

Bridges generally last up to 15 years, but this requires a good oral hygiene routine, which you must use daily, to ensure the longevity of your dental bridge.

Come and ask

If you have any queries, make sure to book a consultation with a Liverpool dentist! We will be more than happy to talk you through the variety of bridges available and which would be best for you.