Dental Bridges: Replacing a Missing Tooth Using Neighbouring Teeth
A dental bridge is a fixed replacement for one or more missing teeth, held in place by the teeth beside the gap. For anyone weighing up a bridge, this page covers when one may suit, the main types, appointments, cleaning under a bridge, lifespan and cost. The key trade-off: a conventional bridge usually means shaping the healthy teeth either side of the gap for crowns.
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Medical disclaimer: This page is for general information only. It does not replace an examination or treatment by a dentist.
Dr Ibraheem Ijaz, principal dentist at Deepcar Dental Care, reviewed this page. He is a General Dental Practitioner, GDC 301711, and his registration can be checked on the General Dental Council's online register.
What is a dental bridge?
A dental bridge is a fixed replacement for one or more missing teeth, held in place by the natural teeth next to the gap. Unlike a denture, a tooth bridge cannot be taken out.
Dentists use two terms for the parts of a bridge. The false tooth that fills the gap is called a pontic, and the teeth that support it are called abutment teeth.
At Deepcar Dental Care, bridges are provided by our restorative dentists, and options include conventional bridges, adhesive and Maryland bridges, and cantilever bridges. No overseas laboratory work is used, and work goes to more than one laboratory, chosen to suit the case.
When might a dental bridge suit?
A bridge may suit when the teeth next to the gap are strong and healthy, according to the Oral Health Foundation. It also needs good support from the bone and gums, the foundation adds.
The Oral Health Foundation says a bridge can help you chew and speak properly, stop nearby teeth drifting into the gap, and reduce trapped food, which can lead to decay and gum disease.
How a fixed bridge compares with a removable denture is set out in our guide to choosing between a bridge and a denture.
What does a bridge mean for the neighbouring teeth?
A conventional bridge usually means cutting down the teeth on either side of the gap so that crowns can be fitted over them. The Oral Health Foundation says those teeth should be strong and healthy, so preparing them removes tooth from healthy teeth. What happens when a tooth is crowned is explained on our page about having a crown fitted.
A laboratory study on resin model back teeth measured how much of each tooth's crown, the part above the root, different preparations removed. Complete crown preparations removed about 67.5 to 75.6%, against about 5.5 to 27.2% for adhesive and inlay designs, and the amount varied with the shape of the tooth (Edelhoff and Sorensen, 2002).
Adhesive bridges, also called resin-bonded bridges, ask less of the neighbouring teeth. The Oral Health Foundation says they need very little drilling, and Bristol Dental School says most need none, although the supporting tooth must still be healthy. Bristol adds that some may de-bond (fall out) and that they can often replace only one tooth.
Shaping healthy teeth is one point weighed in how a dental implant compares with a bridge, which is covered in the dental implants section.
What types of dental bridge are there?
The main types of dental bridge are conventional, adhesive and cantilever bridges, and they differ in how the neighbouring teeth hold them.
| Type of bridge (general guidance) | How it is held | What it asks of the neighbouring teeth |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional | Crowns on the teeth either side of the gap, with the false tooth joined between them | The teeth either side are cut down for crowns |
| Adhesive (resin-bonded), including Maryland bridges | Small wings bonded to the back of nearby teeth | Very little drilling, and most need none |
| Cantilever | Supporting teeth at one end only; the other end is unsupported | The teeth at one end support the whole bridge |
A Maryland bridge is one type of resin-bonded bridge, held by a metal wing, a 2022 case report notes, and the Oral Health Foundation says adhesive bridges are often used for front teeth, where biting forces are lighter.
Each design is explained in more depth in our guide to types of dental bridge.
How many appointments does a dental bridge take?
In general, a bridge takes more than one appointment, as the NHS says it is made from an impression of the surrounding teeth.
For a conventional bridge, crowns are placed on the teeth either side, and the bridge is made in a dental laboratory and cemented into place, the Oral Health Foundation explains.
At Deepcar Dental Care, a bridge takes 2 to 3 visits. A temporary is provided in most cases.
Questions about this treatment? Book online or call the practice.
How do you clean under a dental bridge?
Clean under the false tooth of a bridge every day with special floss or cleaning aids, the Oral Health Foundation advises.
The Oral Health Foundation's daily routine for keeping a bridge and the gums around it healthy is:
- brush your teeth for 2 minutes, last thing at night and once more during the day, with a fluoride toothpaste
- clean carefully around the bridge and along the gum line
- clean under the false tooth using special floss or cleaning aids
- visit your dental team as often as they recommend
Choosing between floss and interdental brushes, and finding the right brush size, are covered in our guide to cleaning between your teeth, and looking after bridges, crowns and fillings over the years in our guide to making dental work last.
How long does a dental bridge last?
A dental bridge can last many years with good care, the Oral Health Foundation says, and regular check-ups help spot problems early.
What lifespan and aftercare cover apply at Deepcar Dental Care?
At Deepcar Dental Care, the realistic lifespan range for a bridge is 5 to 20 years. Outcomes depend on the individual patient, their oral hygiene and their habits.
At Deepcar Dental Care, bridges have 12 months of aftercare cover, which gives free repair, free replacement or remake, and free adjustments. The cover does not apply where damage results from accidental trauma or infection.
What do studies report for each type of bridge?
Systematic reviews give figures for each type:
- Conventional bridges: a 2004 review of 19 studies estimated that 89.1% were still in place after 10 years, with a lower success rate of 71.1%. The 10-year risks were 2.6% for loss to decay, 0.7% for loss to gum disease (periodontitis), 6.4% for coming loose, 2.1% for a fractured supporting tooth and 3.2% for a material fracture (Tan and colleagues).
- Cantilever bridges: a 2004 review of 13 studies estimated that 81.8% were still in place after 10 years, and 63% were free of all complications. The most common biological complications were loss of pulp vitality, the living tissue inside a tooth (32.6%), and decay of supporting teeth (9.1%). Coming loose (16.1%) was the most common technical problem. The review indicated lower survival and success than Tan's review of conventional bridges, and frequent complications (Pjetursson and colleagues).
- Resin-bonded bridges: a 2017 review of 29 studies covering 2,300 bridges estimated that 91.4% were still in place after 5 years and 82.9% after 10 years, but concluded that technical problems such as debonding and minor chipping were frequent (Thoma and colleagues).
How much does a dental bridge cost?
Dental bridges have no line on the practice's current fee list. Our restorative cost page explains what it costs for treatments that do have a line.
When should you speak to your dentist about a bridge?
Speak to your dentist if a bridge comes loose or falls out, or if a tooth that supports it or sits next to it aches. Bristol Dental School advises keeping a resin-bonded bridge that falls out, so that it can be reviewed.
NHS guidance on toothache says to see a dentist if you have toothache that lasts more than 2 days, that does not go away when you take painkillers, that comes with a high temperature, pain when you bite, red gums or a bad taste in your mouth, or with a swollen cheek or jaw. Do not go to your GP, as they cannot give you dental treatment.
If you have toothache and the area around your eye or your neck is swollen, or swelling in your mouth or neck is making it difficult to breathe, swallow or speak, the NHS says go to A&E. Do not drive yourself: ask someone to drive you, or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
To see a dentist in an emergency or out of hours, the NHS advises calling your dentist, whose answerphone may say what to do if they are closed. If you do not have a dentist or cannot get an emergency appointment, call 111 or visit 111 online.
What other restorative treatments are there?
Bridges sit alongside fillings, crowns and dentures among restorative treatments, and our restorative treatments page sets out the options in this section. The main page on repairing and rebuilding damaged teeth explains how restorative dentistry saves natural teeth, as distinct from replacing them with implants.
Frequently asked questions
Is a dental bridge available on the NHS?
NHS guidance says bridges are among the treatments usually available on the NHS. In England, Band 3, currently £332.10, may include a fixed replacement for a missing tooth or teeth. The NHS advises asking your dentist whether a recommended treatment is available on the NHS, and what it will cost, before going ahead.
Will a dental bridge look like my own teeth?
Bridges are designed to look like natural teeth, the Oral Health Foundation says. The foundation says they may be made from porcelain bonded to metal, other strong metals under a porcelain coating, or all-porcelain materials. Bristol Dental School notes that resin-bonded bridges have metal wings on the back, or sometimes the biting surface, of the supporting tooth.
Can you have a bridge straight after a tooth is taken out?
Usually not, the Oral Health Foundation says, because the gums usually need time to heal after a tooth is removed. Once healing is complete, the bridge can be fitted. Bristol Dental School suggests asking how long you will have a gap before a resin-bonded bridge is fitted.
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Deepcar Dental Care is at 334 Manchester Road, Deepcar, Sheffield, S36 2RH, open from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday. Free parking is directly outside, and the practice is on the ground floor with wheelchair access. Patient feedback is on the practice's reviews page.
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