Frequently Asked Questions

Crowns and Bridgework

Date Posted: 1/1/2002

Question What is a bridge?

Answer A bridge is an appliance permanently fixed in the mouth to replace missing teeth. It uses remaining teeth to support the new artificial tooth or teeth. A bridge is made up of two crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap --these two anchoring teeth are called abutment teeth-- and a false tooth/teeth rigidly attached in between. The false teeth are called pontics. The bridge can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain or a combination of these materials. An enamel-bonded bridge uses a metal or porcelain framework to which the artificial teeth are attached, and then resin bonded to supporting teeth.

More questions in this category:

What is a crown?
Why are crowns more expensive than fillings?
What is a bridge?