Fixed Dental Bridges

Fill the Gap for Good

How a Bridge Works

A bridge literally bridges the space where a tooth is missing. The replacement tooth (called a pontic) is fused between two crowns, which are cemented onto the prepared teeth either side of the gap. Once fitted it stays put — you don’t take it out.

Types of Bridge

Traditional fixed bridge — crowns on both neighbouring teeth support the replacement. The most common design. Cantilever bridge — anchored on one side only, used where there’s just one suitable neighbouring tooth. Maryland (resin-bonded) bridge — wings bonded to the backs of adjacent teeth; very conservative, best for front teeth. Implant-supported bridge — anchored to implants rather than natural teeth, so healthy teeth aren’t altered.

The Trade-Off to Understand

A traditional bridge requires reshaping the two neighbouring teeth to take crowns — even if those teeth are perfectly healthy. It also sits above the gum, so it doesn’t stimulate the jawbone beneath the gap, and some bone loss continues over time. An implant avoids both issues but takes longer and involves surgery. We’ll lay out both honestly so you can decide.

Caring for Your Bridge

Brush normally, and clean underneath the pontic daily using a floss threader, super floss or a water flosser. Decay in the supporting teeth is the most common reason a bridge eventually fails, so that daily cleaning genuinely determines how long it lasts.