The artificial teeth used in dental bridges are called pontics. You’ll have a pontic for each missing tooth, created to be close in shape and size to the missing one(s).
Pontics are anchored to a tooth or teeth next to the gap (called abutment teeth) or to a dental implant. The four primary types of bridges include:2
- Traditional fixed bridge: This is the most common type of bridge. It includes a crown on either side of the pontic(s).
- Maryland dental bridge or resin-bonded bridge: This is often used to replace front teeth. Instead of crowns, it uses porcelain or metal frameworks with “wings” that are bonded to the back of your teeth on either side of the gap.
- Implant-supported bridge: An implant for each missing tooth is surgically embedded into your jawbone in one procedure. The bridge, which contains the pontics, is placed over them in a later procedure.
- Cantilever bridge: This one is no longer commonly used. When only one side of the gap contains a natural tooth, the pontic(s) are anchored by a single crown on that natural tooth.