A dental bridge is a permanent appliance that replaces one or more missing teeth. It is made up of two or more crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap, called abutment teeth, and a false tooth or teeth in between, called pontics. The false teeth can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials. There are different types of dental bridges, including:

• Traditional dental bridge: This is the most common type of dental bridge. It consists of dental crowns on both ends with pontics in between. A dentist bonds the crowns to your natural teeth on either side of the gap, and the artificial teeth fill in the space between. Dentists use traditional dental bridges when you have healthy natural teeth on both sides of the gap.

• Cantilever dental bridge: A cantilever bridge is similar to a traditional bridge, but there’s only a crown on one end, not both. So, when your dentist bonds the bridge onto your abutment tooth, the artificial tooth "hangs over" or extends across the gap. Dentists use cantilever bridges when you only have natural teeth on one side of the gap. Due to their design, cantilever bridges aren’t as strong as traditional bridges.

• Maryland dental bridge: A Maryland bridge uses metal wings instead of crowns to secure your bridge. A dentist bonds the wings to the backs of your natural teeth on either side of the gap. Maryland bridges are typically used when the gap to be filled is in the front of the mouth. They are less invasive than traditional bridges because they dont require the abutment teeth to be filed down as much.

During the first visit for getting a dental bridge, the abutment teeth are prepared. Preparation involves recontouring these teeth by removing a portion of enamel to allow room for a crown to be placed over them. Next, impressions of the teeth are made, which serve as a model from which the bridge, pontic, and crowns will be made by a dental lab. Your dentist will make a temporary bridge to wear to protect the exposed teeth and gums while the permanent bridge is being made. Once the permanent bridge is finished, it’s time to revisit your dentist to have it fitted and adjusted. After everything fits comfortably, the permanent bridge will be secured in place with dental cement.