Prosthodontics

Dental Bridges

A dental bridge replaces one or more missing teeth with a fixed restoration anchored to the neighboring teeth or to dental implants, restoring chewing function without a removable piece.

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At a Glance

Two visits, plus lab time

A tooth-supported bridge typically needs two main visits plus one to two weeks of laboratory work. An implant-supported bridge takes longer overall, since it waits on implant healing.

Neighboring teeth are reduced

For a tooth-supported bridge, the teeth on either side of the gap are shaped much like a crown preparation. An implant-supported bridge leaves them untouched instead.

Around 10 to 15 years

A commonly cited general range with good oral hygiene and regular check-ups. Not a guarantee — it depends heavily on the health of the abutment teeth and gums.

Cleaning under the bridge matters

Food can trap beneath the pontic, so a floss threader, super-floss, or interdental brush is generally needed alongside normal brushing to prevent decay starting unnoticed.

What a Dental Bridge Is

A bridge is made of a false tooth, called a pontic, held in place by supporting units called abutments — either crowned natural teeth on either side of the gap, or one or more dental implants. It suits patients with one or more missing teeth in a row who want a fixed, rather than removable, replacement, and who have healthy adjacent teeth able to support crowns, or implants already in place or planned. Choosing a tooth-supported bridge also avoids surgery at the missing-tooth site itself.

Types of Bridge

Traditional tooth-supported

Abutment teeth on both sides of the gap are crowned to hold the pontic in between. The most common type of bridge.

Cantilever

Anchored to an abutment on one side only, used when there's just one adjacent tooth available. Used more cautiously because of the leverage forces involved.

Resin-bonded (Maryland)

A more conservative option using a wing bonded to the back of the adjacent teeth, with less reduction of those teeth — but generally less durable long-term.

Implant-supported

Anchored to one or more implants instead of natural teeth, replacing multiple missing teeth without altering healthy adjacent ones.

How It's Made and Fitted

Examination and planning

The dentist assesses whether a tooth-supported or implant-supported approach fits the case, based on the adjacent teeth and the gap involved.

Preparing the abutments

For a tooth-supported bridge, the adjacent teeth are reduced and shaped. For an implant-supported bridge, implants are placed first in a separate surgical step.

Temporary bridge

A temporary bridge is worn while the permanent one — often built on a zirconia framework for strength across multiple units — is made in the laboratory.

Fitting

The bridge is tried in, adjusted, then cemented onto the abutment teeth or attached to the implants by screw retention or cementation.

Before you decide

Not sure whether this applies to your teeth?

The only way to know is an examination. Ask a question first if you would rather understand the options before booking anything.

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When to Wait or Choose Something Else

Abutment teeth with large fillings, cracks, or advanced decay may need a crown or a buildup before they can support a bridge. Untreated gum disease around the abutment teeth should be addressed first, since a bridge relies on healthy gum and bone support. A long span of several missing teeth in a row is usually better supported by implants than by a conventional tooth-supported bridge, which would otherwise carry too much extra load on the abutments.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is a dental bridge better than an implant?

Neither is universally better — a bridge finishes sooner but requires reducing healthy adjacent teeth, while an implant preserves those teeth but needs a longer timeline and enough jawbone. See the dental implants page for that side of the comparison.