A dental bridges Laurel MD is a dental fixture that fills a gap by connecting one or more missing teeth. It is made up of false teeth (pontics) held in place by crowns on the natural teeth (abutments) or dental implants on either side of the missing tooth space. Bridges enhance chewing ability, speech, and aesthetic appeal, and can be fabricated from materials such as porcelain, ceramic, or metal.

Types of Bridges around the World

Conventional dental bridge. This is the most prevalent type of dental bridge. This dental restoration is made up of caps on either end and artificial teeth in between. The artificial teeth (pontics) are attached to the crowns on your natural teeth (abutments) on either side of the gap, with the crowns effectively filling in the space between. Dental professionals typically employ traditional dental bridges when there are healthy natural teeth situated on either side of the gap.

Overhanging dental bridge. A cantilever dental bridges Laurel MD shares many characteristics with a conventional bridge. There is only a crown on one end, not on both ends. When the dentist attaches the bridge to the abutment tooth, the artificial tooth (pontic) spans the space by extending over it. Dentists typically use cantilever bridges when there is only one side of the gap with natural teeth. Cantilever bridges are generally less robust than their traditional counterparts.

Maryland dental bridge. A Maryland bridge utilizes metal clasps instead of crowns to stabilize the bridge. The dentist attaches the wings to the rear of the adjacent teeth to secure the bridge. Typically, dentists use Maryland bridges to replace front teeth. These appliances are not robust enough to endure the masticatory forces of the molars.

A traditional bridge is comparable to an implant-supported bridge, but the latter rests on dental implants rather than the natural teeth. Dental implants are small threaded posts that replace tooth roots that are missing. Your dental implants must fully fuse with your jawbone before a bridge can be attached.

On average, this process typically requires three to six months, though the timeframe may be extended based on individual circumstances. Dentists can use implant-supported dental bridges Laurel MD when three or more consecutive teeth are missing.