A dental bridge is a fixed (non-removable) appliance and is an older way to replace missing teeth.
There are several types of bridges. The “traditional bridge” is the most popular type and is usually made of porcelain fused to metal. This type of bridge consists to two crowns that go over two anchoring teeth and are attached to pontics (artificial teeth), filling the gap created by one or more missing teeth.
My 83 year old patient from Hollywood had pain from a large bridge that spanned 4 teeth. When a bridge is that long, it flexes in the middle when you bite. It caused the front anchor tooth to split and cause a bone infection. That root canaled tooth had to be extracted. It also caused a bone pocket and bone loss on the back anchor tooth. It is very common for a bridge to get a cavity also!
The bridge is so long it can only be seen on two x-rays! (see pictures below)
The new three tooth implant bridge was designed with large implants to withstand his strong bite.
It has been working great. You are never too old!
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