Dental bridges are non-removable prostheses that are used to replace missing teeth. There are several kinds of dental bridges, and they’re classified based on their attachments.
Traditional dental bridges are composed of crowns that are attached to each other. The false teeth used to replace the missing teeth are anchored to the natural teeth adjacent to the space. This would require the grinding down of these natural teeth to accommodate the dental bridge.
A cantilever bridge is also composed of crowns attached to each other. However, with a cantilever bridge, there is only one anchor tooth. This bridge is only used to replace a front tooth because using it to replace a back tooth would cause too much strain on the anchor tooth since it will be carrying the load of two teeth.
A Maryland bridge is almost the same as a traditional dental bridge, but instead of crowns attached to the anchor teeth, the false tooth is bonded to the anchor teeth with metal or porcelain wings. This eliminates the need to grind down the anchor teeth, thus preserving their natural structure. This bridge is also recommended for replacing the front tooth only.
Lastly, an implant-supported bridge is a bridge that is attached not to the natural teeth but to implants. These implants are titanium rods embedded in the jaw bone. They work as artificial tooth roots and provide stable support to dental bridges.