Bridge

• To replace missing teeth in order to prevent the drifting of neighbouring teeth into the tooth space, which will result in tilted teeth or abnormal bite.
• To restore the functions of teeth, including mastication, speech and esthetics.

• A bridge is being anchored by the teeth on either side of the tooth space; it can also be fixed by a metal wing extending from either side of the bridge.
• A bridge can be used together with crowns.

Porcelain fused to metal alloy

Conventional Bridge

• Mechanism
  • The crowns on both ends of the bridge act as anchors and hold the bridge in place.
• Properties
  • Suitable for stress bearing area
  • Bridge can be relatively longer
• Procedures for conventional bridge
  • Grind the neighbouring teeth on both sides of the tooth space into appropriate shape according to the design of the bridge.
  • Take impressions of the upper and lower dental arches and record the bite.
  • Fabricate the bridge in the dental laboratory.
  • Try in the finished bridge in the patient’s mouth and make adjustments if needed.
  • Cement the bridge onto the prepared teeth.
    

Cantilever Bridge

• Mechanism
  • The bridge is only supported or fixed on one neighbouring tooth.
• Properties
  • Suitable for low stress bearing area
  • Can only replace one missing tooth (For example, replacement of a lateral incisor by a cantilever bridge anchored by the central incisor)
• Procedures for cantilever bridge
  • Grind the neighbouring tooth of the missing tooth into appropriate shape according to the design of the bridge.
  • Take impressions of the upper and lower dental arches and record the bite.
  • Fabricate the bridge in the dental laboratory.
  • Try in the finished bridge in the patient’s mouth and make adjustments if needed.
  • Cement the bridge onto the prepared tooth.
    

Maryland Bridge

• Mechanism
  • The bridge is anchored by metal wings extending from both ends, and bond to the neighbouring teeth by cement.
• Properties
  • Only suitable for low stress bearing area
  • The teeth used to support the bridge should have enough enamel structure
• Procedures for Maryland bridge
  • Grind the inner surfaces of neighbouring teeth of the missing tooth into appropriate shape according to the design of the bridge.
  • Take impressions of the upper and lower dental arches and record the bite.
  • Fabricate the bridge in the dental laboratory.
  • Try in the bridge in the patient’s mouth and make adjustments if needed.
  • Complete processing the bridge in the dental laboratory.
  • Bond the bridge onto the prepared teeth with cement.