To what area is a bridge connected when replacing a missing tooth?

To what area is a bridge connected when replacing a missing tooth?

• A. Adjacent healthy teeth using crowns
• B. Gums
• C. Jawbone
• D. Implants

Answer: (A)

A dental bridge is anchored to neighboring teeth that are prepared to serve as supports. In a traditional fixed bridge, the two teeth on either side of the gap are reduced in size and capped with crowns; these crowns become the abutments that hold the bridge in place, with the pontic (the replacement tooth) spanning the missing-tooth space. The gums and jawbone provide surrounding tissue support, but they aren’t the direct connection points for the bridge. Implants can also support a bridge in other scenarios, but when replacing a tooth by connecting to adjacent teeth, the connection is to those neighboring teeth via crowns.

A dental bridge is anchored to neighboring teeth that are prepared to serve as supports. In a traditional fixed bridge, the two teeth on either side of the gap are reduced in size and capped with crowns; these crowns become the abutments that hold the bridge in place, with the pontic (the replacement tooth) spanning the missing-tooth space. The gums and jawbone provide surrounding tissue support, but they aren’t the direct connection points for the bridge. Implants can also support a bridge in other scenarios, but when replacing a tooth by connecting to adjacent teeth, the connection is to those neighboring teeth via crowns.