What types of dental bridges are there?
At My City Dental on Keele Street in Vaughan the dentist checks your gap and the teeth around it, then explains which bridge fits and what it costs.
There are four main types of dental bridges, and what stands on each side of the gap decides which one fits.
| Type | What holds it | When it suits | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional bridge | Crowns on the teeth on both sides of the gap | Strong teeth on both sides | Both neighbours are reshaped for crowns |
| Cantilever bridge | A crown on one neighbouring tooth | Teeth on one side of the gap only | More strain on one tooth, and lower survival |
| Maryland (resin-bonded) bridge | Wings bonded to the back of the neighbouring teeth, with little or no reshaping | Front teeth | The wings can come unstuck |
| Implant-supported bridge | Dental implants in the jawbone | Several missing teeth in a row | Surgery and months of healing |
What happens during dental bridge treatment?
Dental bridge treatment at My City Dental in Vaughan starts with an exam of the gap, the supporting teeth and your gums. Decay or gum disease gets treated first, because a bridge is only as strong as the teeth holding it.
The area is numbed before any tooth is reshaped, so you should not feel pain during the procedure. Tell the dentist straight away if anything hurts. Your teeth and gums can feel sore or sensitive afterwards, and Cleveland Clinic puts healing at about one to two weeks.
Traditional or cantilever bridge
- The supporting teeth are reshaped so crowns can fit over them. This removes healthy enamel for good.
- Impressions or digital scans record your teeth so the bridge can be designed.
- A temporary bridge protects the reshaped teeth while your custom bridge is made.
- On your final visit the dentist checks the fit, bite and colour and then cements the bridge.
Implant-supported bridge
- Dental implants are placed in the jawbone during a surgical appointment.
- The bone heals around the implants. Cleveland Clinic gives three to six months on average, and longer for some people.
- The bridge is then attached to the implants.
Implant surgery carries a risk of infection and bleeding. It can also injure a nerve and leave your lip, chin or tongue numb or tingling. That nerve injury can be long-lasting or, rarely, permanent.
An implant can also fail to fuse with the bone. Ask the team whether an implant-supported bridge suits you.
Risks and benefits of dental bridges
Here is what a bridge does well.
- You chew and speak more normally on that side.
- A bridge is fixed, so there is nothing to take out at night.
- It helps keep neighbouring and opposing teeth from drifting into the space.
And here are the drawbacks.
- A traditional or cantilever bridge means reshaping the teeth beside the gap. That cannot be reversed.
- A supporting tooth can lose its nerve over time and need root canal treatment. A systematic review of cantilever bridges found this was the most common biological problem.
- Decay can start at the edges of the crowns, where plaque is hard to reach.
- The bridge can come loose, and porcelain can chip.
- With a tooth-supported bridge, the bone under the missing tooth keeps shrinking, because the bridge does not replace the root.
- A bridge wears out in time and needs replacing.
How long does a dental bridge last?
A dental bridge lasts about 5 to 15 years on average, according to Cleveland Clinic. A 2015 systematic review of tooth-supported bridges found 86 to 94 percent still in place after five years, depending on the material.
Is a porcelain dental bridge the right material for you?
A porcelain dental bridge matches the shade of your natural teeth, so it suits gaps that show when you smile.
- Porcelain fused to metal has a metal frame for strength and porcelain over it.
- All-ceramic bridges such as zirconia have no metal and look natural. Zirconia bridges showed more chipping and loosening than metal-ceramic ones in that review.
- Gold and other metal alloys are strong but visible, so they suit back teeth better.
What does a dental bridge cost?
A traditional three-tooth bridge costs about $3,000 to $4,500, going by published prices at other Vaughan and Toronto-area clinics. Your own cost comes in a written estimate after an exam. A three-tooth bridge is the one that replaces a single missing tooth.
These things change the price:
- How many teeth are missing and how many units the bridge needs
- The type of bridge, from a Maryland bridge to an implant-supported one
- The material you and the dentist choose
- Any treatment needed first, such as fillings or gum care
- Lab fees
An implant-supported bridge adds the cost of the implants and the surgery to place them.
My City Dental accepts the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). CDCP coverage depends on the service and your eligibility, and some services need preauthorization. Bridges are not covered at all: the CDCP Dental Benefits Guide lists bridges and all bridge-related procedures as exclusions.
Why do I need a dental bridge?
A gap from a missing tooth affects more than your smile. The teeth beside and above it can drift or tip. Your bite can shift and food packs into the space.
A bridge is not the right choice for everyone. Bridges are not a routine option for children.
Weak or badly decayed supporting teeth need treatment before a bridge, or a different option. Untreated gum disease needs care first. Replacing a missing tooth early helps protect the teeth you still have.
Dental bridge or implant: which suits you?
A tooth-supported bridge replaces the visible tooth and leans on its neighbours. An implant replaces the root as well and stands on its own. Cleveland Clinic notes that implants last longer than bridges on average and help preserve the jawbone.
A bridge costs less than an implant as a rule, according to Cleveland Clinic. Compare written estimates for both and weigh the price against how long each one lasts.
| Question | Traditional bridge | Single dental implant |
|---|---|---|
| What happens to the teeth beside the gap? | They are reshaped for crowns | They are left alone |
| Is surgery needed? | No | Yes, then three to six months of healing on average |
| What happens to the bone under the gap? | It keeps shrinking | The implant helps preserve it |
| When is it the wrong choice? | When the teeth beside the gap are healthy and you want to keep them untouched | When you cannot have surgery, or there is too little bone and you do not want grafting |
If the teeth beside your gap already have large fillings or crowns, a bridge puts them to good use. If they are healthy and untouched, an implant spares them.
Our dental implants page explains implant cost and what changes it.
A removable partial denture is the third option. It needs no surgery. It can feel bulkier and move when you chew.
Cleveland Clinic describes a bridge as more comfortable than a partial denture as a rule. A partial denture comes out every day for cleaning, and a bridge stays fixed.
How do you care for a dental bridge?
Clean under your bridge every day with floss threaders or small interdental brushes. Plaque collects under the false tooth. Keep your regular checkups so the dentist can check the supporting teeth.
Skip very hard foods and do not open packages with your teeth. With a temporary bridge, avoid sticky foods on that side.
Call the clinic at (905) 581-2228 if your bridge feels loose or your bite feels high. Call promptly too if a supporting tooth aches, it hurts to bite, or sensitivity is severe, gets worse or does not ease. Mild sensitivity after the bridge goes in should settle. For a sudden problem, our emergency dentist page explains what to do.
My City Dental offers emergency same-day care when available.
Call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department if you have trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling that spreads toward your eye or neck, fever with facial swelling, or bleeding that will not stop.
Dental bridge questions
How much is a dental bridge in Canada?
The price of a dental bridge in Canada depends on how many units it has, the type of bridge and the material.
In Ontario each dentist sets their own fees, so two clinics can quote different amounts for the same bridge. Ask for a written, itemized estimate after your exam.
Does dental insurance cover a tooth bridge in Vaughan?
Coverage for a tooth bridge in Vaughan depends on your insurance plan. Each private plan sets its own share, waiting period and yearly maximum for bridges.
Ask your insurer for a predetermination before treatment. It is an estimate of what the plan may pay, not a promise. My City Dental offers direct insurance billing.
How many teeth can a dental bridge replace?
A dental bridge can replace one missing tooth or several in a row. The supporting teeth set the limit.
Each support carries the chewing load of the false teeth, so a long span strains it. For three or more missing teeth in a row, Cleveland Clinic notes that dentists can use an implant-supported bridge.
Can a dental bridge come loose?
Yes. A dental bridge can come loose when the cement fails or decay forms under a crown. Do not glue it back yourself.
Keep the bridge in a clean, dry container and call the clinic. A loose bridge left in place can let decay spread under the crowns.