A bridge or a fixed partial denture — a device used to replace missing teeth — attaches artificial teeth to adjacent natural teeth, called abutment teeth. Bridges are either permanently attached (fixed bridges), or they can be removable.
A fixed dental bridge means the bridge is cemented onto the abutment teeth, and is not intended to be removed by the patient. Dental bridges can be made from a variety of metals, porcelain, ceramic, tooth colored resin, or combinations of these materials. They can be made to look and function very much like natural teeth.
- Fixed bridges do not move or shift in the mouth when chewing, like removable partial dentures can.
Replacement of missing teeth with fixed bridgework prevents the adjacent and opposing teeth from moving/drifting
Types of crowns used in making of bridge
- All-metal– the classic all-metal crown is a “gold” one, a number of other dental alloys can be used during the fabrication process. cosmetic appearance is of little concern. For example, they are frequently placed on molars.
- All-ceramiccrown is made entirely out of some type of dental ceramic, such as porcelain.
- Carved out of a single block of ceramic by a computerized milling machine (CAD/CAM unit).
- frequently placed on front teeth (incisors and canines) for natural look, although they can be placed on premolars and molars too.
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal(PFM)- combination of metal and ceramic-A thin metal thimble is fabricated, porcelain is then fused over this metal shell