The Nature and Purpose of a Dental Bridge

Their smiles may be cute when young children lose a deciduous tooth. However, in adults, it’s embarrassing and a reason to consider getting a dental bridge. A gap that was once so endearing to a loving parent holds no such charm as we age and become more conscious of our appearance. Imagine being afraid to smile on that tentative first date or when attending an interview for a much-desired and lucrative job.

Fortunately, there are some viable solutions. The most recent of these is a dental implant. However, although implants are undoubtedly the best long-term solution, not everyone can afford them. Furthermore, the process of designing, creating and fitting an implant tends to be quite lengthy at a time when many patients are hoping for a quick fix. Anyone who needs to fill an unsightly gap left by one or more missing teeth quickly and inexpensively has a choice of two options: a partial denture or bridgework.

A Dental Bridge Versus a Partial Denture

Each option serves to remedy problem gaps. However, while bridgework is anchored to crowns placed over adjacent teeth and fixed in position, a partial denture is removable and, consequently, inherently less stable. Nevertheless, a dentist must decide which option will be best for a given patient before determining how to proceed. Let’s review each option in more detail:

• Partial denture: This option is a removable prosthetic device for single or multiple-tooth replacement. It consists of artificial ceramic or porcelain teeth mounted on a plastic plate and clasped to the healthy teeth in the same arch.
  Fitting a partial denture is non-invasive, requiring only a moulded impression or 3D scan of the dental arch from which to create it. It’s an inexpensive option that adequately meets a patient’s functional and aesthetic requirements. Partial dentures can be modified to suit the wearer’s needs, such as additional tooth loss and are easily repaired. On the downside, dentures eventually become loose due to underlying bone resorption in the absence of embedded roots.
• Dental bridge: In effect, a bridge is also a partial denture, the main difference being that it is not removable. Like its architectural counterpart, it is designed to span a gap. It is anchored on either side of the gap and can support infrastructure: artificial teeth in the case of dentistry.
  Because a bridge is attached by abutments to neighbouring teeth, it is inherently more stable than a partial denture. It also stabilises those teeth to which it is connected, ensuring they remain correctly aligned. As a result, they tend to outlast partial dentures and have a typical lifespan of ten to fifteen years. The only significant snag with a dental bridge is that it requires modifications to the otherwise healthy teeth that support it.

Denture or Bridge?

Ultimately, the choice between a dental bridge and a partial denture depends on factors like the extent of tooth loss, the condition of the remaining teeth, aesthetic concerns, cost considerations, and the patient’s personal preference. Bridges are fixed and stable. Dentures are cheaper, removable and versatile. The decision is best discussed with a dentist who will recommend the option best for your oral health. If you’re undecided and need expert advice, please don’t hesitate to contact Dr Ivan Marx.