You have decided to replace some missing teeth and are looking for a suitable solution? Do you want a dental bridge? Do you not know the difference between a dental bridge between implants and a dental bridge between teeth? The following article describes the characteristics of a dental bridge, the materials it is made of, and the differences with implants.

What is a dental bridge?

It is a fixed prosthesis used to replace missing teeth. It consists of three elements: two pillars, one mesial and one distal, and the dental bridge itself that connects the pillars together.

The pillar is the structure on which the dental bridge rests and consists of two teeth or implants placed in front of and behind the missing tooth to form what is called a dental bridge. In the first case, the two teeth that will form the pillar are filed down to create a surface ready to receive the dental bridge.

In the second case, the dental bridge is connected to dental implants, which are artificial roots inserted into the bone or jaw and which cover the hole of the missing tooth.

The shortest bridge is the one that replaces a single missing tooth by relying on the teeth in front and behind. It can also be made in multiple extensions, such as a 4-tooth bridge on 2 implants.

Materials for dental bridges

A dental bridge is a good solution for replacing missing teeth, both aesthetically and functionally. They can be made from various materials, including ceramics.

Ceramic is the most appropriate material for making dental bridges, as it is extremely biocompatible and looks a lot like natural teeth.

At Dentusy, we make ceramic dental bridges from zirconium, a material that offers unparalleled aesthetics and greater strength, as zirconium is very strong. In addition, it is translucent and therefore looks even more like natural teeth.

Alternatives to dental bridges: difference with implants

Dental bridges are an excellent solution for replacing missing teeth, but it is also possible to do so using dental implants. These are artificial roots that are implanted into the bone to support a metal-ceramic or zirconium-ceramic crown that directly replaces the missing tooth without the support of a neighboring tooth.

Using a dental implant avoids having to file down the adjacent teeth to the missing tooth, which is necessary to fix the dental bridge. The differences can be summarized as follows:

• In the first case, the dental implant is inserted into the bone, and then the tooth is placed on the implant without having to touch the neighboring teeth.

• In the second case, the prosthesis is fixed on the existing teeth, which have to be filed down to reduce their volume in order to stick the dental bridge that will connect the teeth together.

These two solutions for replacing missing teeth should be chosen based on the patient's needs and the characteristics of their teeth.