Understanding Single Tooth Bridges

If you have a missing tooth, a dental bridge is one of your many options to fix your smile. If you’re weighing dental implants vs. bridges, you can learn more about the differences here. Traditionally, a dental bridge uses two healthy teeth on both sides of the missing tooth gap as support to hold it in place. These are called abutments. However, there are certain situations wherein two abutments are not the best option for your bridge. For this, your dentist may recommend a single tooth bridge.

A single tooth bridge may be ideal if you want a more conservative and affordable treatment or if you only have one healthy tooth to act as an abutment. Ultimately, it depends on your dentist to create the best treatment plan for you. At Sierra Dental, our in-house prosthodontist, can help you understand if this option is right for you.

Read below to learn more about single tooth bridges and if this is an ideal alternative to renew your smile.

While a traditional dental bridge uses two abutments to hold the artificial tooth in place, a single tooth bridge is a fixed dental prosthetic that only requires one abutment. This is also commonly called a cantilever bridge.

The abutment, or the healthy tooth support, may come from either side of the tooth gap. This should be a healthy or well-restored tooth so it can anchor the bridge in place and improve the natural appearance and function of your smile. The bridge will hang onto this abutment tooth while an artificial tooth or pontic will extend across the gap to replace the missing tooth.

Our prosthodontist, recommends a single tooth bridge to patients who only have one healthy tooth on either side of the missing tooth. She also recommends this procedure if the single tooth abutment can provide sufficient support for the artificial tooth, preventing the need to shave down another tooth.

Over other alternatives such as traditional dental bridges, dentures, and implants, single tooth bridges can offer several advantages which our patients appreciate:

More conservative and affordable treatment

Because it only requires two units of a dental bridge, a single tooth bridge offers a less invasive and cheaper option.

Faster and less complicated procedure

A single tooth bridge is non-surgical. This is unlike dentures or an implant, which may require pre-treatment procedures such as bone grafts to prepare the mouth — see what to expect from a dental implant procedure. And because there is no surgery involved, the recovery time for a single tooth bridge is very minimal.

Restores chewing and speaking functions

Whether as a replacement for the front or back tooth, a single unit dental bridge can effectively restore your confidence in speaking and talking. It also allows you to bite and chew your favourite foods.

Improves the smile and bite

A complete set of teeth prevents consequences such as shifting of the teeth which can cause teeth gaps and bite problems.

While it is a good alternative to traditional dental bridges, single tooth bridges may not be ideal for everyone.

Because it only uses the support of one tooth, a single tooth bridge may be less durable and stable compared to a traditional dental bridge. With this, the lifespan of a single tooth bridge is lower even with good maintenance. If you are looking for a more long-term solution, we will help you explore more permanent options, such as a dental implant.

Also, because of the singular tooth as support, a single tooth bridge can only effectively replace one missing tooth. If you have a few missing teeth, it is best to go over other alternatives with our prosthodontics team.

There is no “one cost fits all” when it comes to a single tooth bridge. The cost may vary depending on the material of the bridge and your specific dental needs. For example, if there are certain tooth restorations to be done on the abutment tooth, this will add on to the total cost. Also, a tooth bridge made of metal-porcelain is more affordable compared to all-ceramic options.

Ultimately, the cost will be finalized upon creating your bespoke treatment plan. During your initial consultation, our prosthodontist will assess your smile, discuss the treatment, and quote you for the procedure.

For more in-depth information on this, you may schedule your consultation with Sierra Dental. We follow the Alberta Dental Association fee guide which lists all dental services and their corresponding costs. This helps with transparency in pricing and allows our patients to understand the fees before they commit to a treatment.

If you have a missing or lost tooth, a single tooth bridge is a faster, conservative, and more affordable option for you.

Contact us today at (403) 297-9600 to discover if this is the right choice for you and your smile!