How a Dental Bridge Works
A traditional bridge has two main parts. The abutments are dental crowns placed on the healthy teeth on either side of the gap, and the pontic is the artificial tooth suspended between them. All of the pieces are fused together into one unit and permanently cemented in place, so the bridge doesn’t come out for cleaning as a partial denture does.
Types of Dental Bridges
Dr. Bartz will recommend a bridge design based on how many teeth are missing, where the gap is, and the health of the teeth and bone around it:
- Traditional Bridge: Crowns on the teeth on both sides of the gap support one or more replacement teeth. This is the most common type.
- Implant-Supported Bridge: Dental implants serve as the anchors instead of natural teeth, which is ideal when several teeth in a row are missing, or the neighboring teeth are healthy and untouched.
- Cantilever Bridge: The replacement tooth is supported by a crown on one side only, used in specific situations with lighter biting forces.
- Resin-Bonded Bridge: Also called a Maryland bridge, it uses small wings bonded to the backs of neighboring teeth and is sometimes used for a single missing front tooth.
Why Replace a Missing Back Tooth?
Patients often ask whether a missing molar really needs to be replaced if no one can see it and it doesn’t hurt. In most cases, the answer is yes. Back teeth carry most of your chewing force, so losing one puts extra stress on the teeth that remain. Over months and years, neighboring teeth can tip into the space, creating gaps that trap food and bite changes that can contribute to jaw soreness and headaches.
The jawbone under a missing tooth also begins to shrink because it’s no longer being stimulated by a root. Replacing the tooth sooner rather than later keeps more of your options open, including dental implants, which need enough bone to support them.
Replacing or Repairing an Older Bridge
Bridges last a long time, but they don’t last forever, and restoring older bridges is one of the most common treatments we provide. The weak point is usually the natural tooth under each abutment crown, which can still develop decay at the gumline. Signs that your bridge may need attention include:
- A Loose or Shifting Bridge: Movement often means the cement has washed out or an anchor tooth has decay underneath.
- A Dark Line at the Gumline: Gum recession can expose the edge of an older crown or the metal beneath the porcelain.
- Chipped or Cracked Porcelain: Damage to the surface can create rough edges and weaken the restoration.
- A Bad Taste or Odor: Food and bacteria trapped under a bridge can indicate decay or a poor seal.
- Sensitivity or Soreness: Discomfort in one of the anchor teeth may point to decay or a problem with the nerve.
Dr. Bartz will examine the bridge and the supporting teeth with X-rays and let you know whether it can be repaired or should be replaced. In some cases, a failing bridge can be replaced with a new bridge, while in others, implants offer a more stable long-term solution.
The Dental Bridge Process
A traditional bridge typically takes two appointments:
- Consultation and Planning: Dr. Bartz examines the gap and surrounding teeth with digital X-rays and an intraoral camera and walks you through your options.
- Preparing the Anchor Teeth: After numbing, the teeth on either side of the gap are shaped to make room for the crowns.
- Digital Scan: A 3D scan of your teeth is sent to an American dental lab, which crafts your bridge to match your bite and shade.
- Temporary Bridge: A temporary bridge protects the prepared teeth and fills the space while the final bridge is made.
- Final Placement: The permanent bridge is checked for fit, bite, and color, then cemented in place.
Caring for Your Bridge
The area underneath the replacement tooth needs special attention, since regular floss can’t pass through a bridge from the top. A floss threader, a thicker floss designed for bridges, or a water flosser makes it easy to clean beneath the pontic and around the anchor teeth. Brushing twice a day and keeping up with routine cleanings protect the supporting teeth, which are the key to a bridge’s lifespan.
How Much Does a Dental Bridge Cost?
Nationally, a traditional three-unit bridge (two crowns and one replacement tooth) typically costs about $3,000 to $6,000, with recent averages close to $5,000. Bridges that replace more teeth cost more, and implant-supported bridges are a larger investment because they include the cost of the implants themselves. Many insurance plans cover bridges as major restorative care at around 50% after the deductible. Patients without insurance can save 20% on bridges with the KB Dental Membership Plan.
