Most people picture a bridge as a false tooth held between two crowns, and that is the most common design. There are three others, though, and the one that suits you depends far less on the gap than on the teeth beside it. Strong teeth that already carry big fillings, untouched healthy teeth, a tooth on only one side, or no good support at all each point to a different design.
When the teeth either side already need work
A conventional bridge is the familiar version. The teeth on both sides of the gap are shaped and fitted with crowns, and the false tooth, called a pontic, is joined between them so the three units work as one piece. It handles biting force well and can be used at the front or back of the mouth.
The cost to your natural teeth is the shaping. Enamel removed for a crown does not grow back, so this design makes most sense when the neighbouring teeth are heavily filled, cracked or already crowned and would benefit from that coverage anyway. Shaping two healthy, unfilled teeth just to hold a bridge is a bigger trade-off, and that is where the other designs come in.
When the neighbours are healthy and untouched
A resin-bonded bridge, often called a Maryland bridge, leaves the neighbouring teeth largely as they are. The false tooth has a thin metal or ceramic wing that is glued to the back surface of the tooth beside it, with little or no drilling. It is a good fit for a single missing front tooth, especially a lateral incisor, where biting forces are lighter.
Because it is held by a bond rather than a crown, it can come unstuck. When that happens it can often be cleaned and rebonded. It is less suited to back teeth, where chewing forces are higher.
When there is a tooth on only one side
A cantilever bridge attaches the false tooth to a support on one side only. That can work when there is no tooth beyond the gap, or when using a single neighbour is simpler. The catch is leverage: a tooth held from one side acts like a diving board, putting extra stress on its support. For that reason cantilevers are mostly used where biting forces are low, and many modern resin-bonded bridges at the front are designed this way, with a single wing.
When implants can carry the load instead
An implant-supported bridge is anchored to dental implants placed in the jawbone rather than to natural teeth. It is often used for a gap of three or more teeth, where natural teeth alone could not carry the span, and it leaves the remaining natural teeth untouched. Implants also load the jawbone in a way a conventional bridge pontic does not, which can help limit the bone shrinkage that follows tooth loss.
It does involve surgery and a healing period of a few months before the final teeth are fitted, and it costs more than a bridge on natural teeth. Our article on the implant-supported bridge explains the steps, and our guide to implants, bridges and dentures compares the wider choices.
The four designs side by side
| Design | What holds it | Shaping of natural teeth | Usually suits | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional | Crowns on the teeth either side | Significant, on two teeth | Gaps beside teeth that already need crowns | Removes healthy enamel if the neighbours were sound |
| Resin-bonded (Maryland) | A wing bonded to the back of a neighbour | Little or none | A single front tooth with healthy neighbours | Can debond; not for heavy biting |
| Cantilever | One supporting tooth | Varies with design | Low-force areas with support on one side | Extra leverage on the support |
| Implant-supported | Implants in the jawbone | None | Longer gaps or no suitable natural support | Surgery, healing time and higher cost |
A single gap often comes down to bridge or implant
For one missing tooth with teeth on both sides, the realistic choice is usually a conventional or resin-bonded bridge against a single implant. A bridge is quicker and avoids surgery. A single implant leaves the neighbours alone and keeps the bone under the gap working, but needs surgery, more time and a bigger budget. Neither is better for everyone. The health of the neighbouring teeth, the amount of bone, your timeline and your budget all feed into it.
How long bridges tend to last
Bridges are a well-studied treatment. A systematic review in Dental Materials (Pjetursson and colleagues, 2015), drawing on 40 studies, estimated that about 94% of metal-ceramic bridges on natural teeth were still in place after five years. All-ceramic bridges did slightly less well, with more fractures of the ceramic in some materials. Beyond those averages, how long your bridge lasts depends mostly on the health of the supporting teeth, your bite and how well the area under the bridge is kept clean.
Cleaning under the false tooth
The weak point of any bridge is the space beneath the pontic and around the supporting teeth, because ordinary floss cannot pass between joined teeth. A floss threader, an interdental brush or a water flosser reaches that area. Our comparison of water flossers, floss and interdental brushes covers the options. Decay on a supporting tooth is one of the common reasons a bridge has to be replaced, so regular check-ups with your dentist or OHT matter.
Typical costs in Australia
As a general guide, a three-unit bridge on natural teeth typically falls between $3,500 and $6,500 across the Australian market. This is a typical market range rather than a Lumi fee. Resin-bonded bridges usually cost less because there are fewer crowns to make, and implant-supported bridges cost more because of the surgery and components. Health fund extras cover often contributes, so check your policy. A written treatment plan with fees after an examination is the only reliable figure, and current offers are on our deals page.
What patients ask about bridges
Does having a bridge made hurt?
The shaping is done under local anaesthetic. The teeth may feel sensitive for a short time after the temporary or final bridge goes in, and this usually settles.
Can I whiten my teeth once I have a bridge?
Whitening gels do not change the colour of crowns or false teeth. If you would like whiter teeth, it is best to whiten first and have the bridge matched to the new shade. Our guide to in-chair and take-home whitening explains the options.
What happens if a supporting tooth gets decay?
Small problems found early can sometimes be repaired, but decay under a crown can mean the bridge needs to be removed and remade. That is why cleaning underneath every day is worth the effort.
If you have a gap and would like to know which kind of bridge, or an implant, would suit your mouth, the team at Lumi Dental in Melrose Park can examine the teeth around it and explain the options. Get in touch, read about our general dental care, or see current offers on our deals page.
