# Dental Bridges

> Citation bundle for Dental Bridges on The Treatment Registry.
> URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/procedures/dental-bridges
> Bundle URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/api/citations/procedures/dental-bridges

- Category: dental

## Description

A bridge is a fixed dental restoration used to replace one or more missing teeth by joining an artificial tooth definitively to adjacent teeth or dental implants.

## Overview

A dental bridge is a fixed dental restoration used to replace one or more missing teeth by permanently joining an artificial tooth to the adjacent teeth or to dental implants. The replacement tooth is called a pontic, and it is supported by retainers cemented onto the neighbouring abutment teeth. In a conventional bridge the abutment teeth are prepared and reduced to carry full-coverage crowns, three-quarter crowns, post-retained crowns, inlays or onlays that support the prosthesis. Bridges are named according to how the pontic is connected: a fixed-fixed design is rigidly attached to a retainer at both ends and requires the abutment teeth to be prepared parallel to one another; a cantilever bridge is attached to a retainer on only one side; and a fixed-movable design uses a rigid connector at one end and a movable joint at the other to accommodate differences in the angulation of the abutment teeth. Pontics come in several forms, including hygienic (sanitary), dome (bullet), ridge-lap, modified ridge-lap and ovate designs, each chosen to balance appearance against ease of cleaning. Bridges can be provisional (temporary) restorations that protect prepared teeth while the final restoration is made, or permanent. They are constructed from metals such as gold or base-metal alloys, or from non-metal materials including porcelain fused to metal and all-ceramic options such as zirconia; porcelain fused to metal is a long-established and well-documented choice.

## FAQs

### What is a dental bridge?

A dental bridge is a fixed dental restoration that replaces one or more missing teeth by joining an artificial tooth definitively to the adjacent teeth or to dental implants. Unlike a denture, it is fixed in place rather than removable.

### What are the pontic and abutment teeth?

The pontic is the artificial replacement tooth. The abutment teeth are the natural teeth (or implants) on either side of the gap that support the bridge, holding it in place via retainers such as crowns.

### What types of bridge are there?

Conventional designs include the fixed-fixed bridge, rigidly connected at both ends; the cantilever, attached on only one side; and the fixed-movable, which uses a movable joint at one end to accommodate differences in the angulation of the abutment teeth.

### What are dental bridges made from?

Bridges can be metal-based, using noble metals such as gold or base-metal alloys, or non-metal, including porcelain fused to metal, fibre-reinforced composite and all-ceramic materials such as zirconia. Porcelain fused to metal is a well-documented option.

### What is the difference between a provisional and a permanent bridge?

A provisional bridge is a temporary restoration that protects teeth weakened by preparation and stabilises the tissues while the final bridge is made. A permanent bridge is the definitive, long-term restoration.

### Do the neighbouring teeth need to be prepared?

In a conventional bridge, yes. The abutment teeth are prepared and reduced so they can carry the crowns, inlays or onlays that support the prosthesis. The amount of preparation depends on the bridge design chosen.