Bridge over troubled water

A dental bridge replaces missing teeth and is not removable. Many times, patients ask me if it is possible to get a 4-unit bridge. What they usually mean is that 4 teeth are already missing or that they need some extractions and -in the end- 4 adjacent teeth will be gone.

A single crown will simply rest upon the structure that supported the natural tooth. However, when several adjacent teeth are missing, there probably will not be enough support for a bridge.

Here the dentist uses 'Ante's Rule' (No, not auntie's rule....):

"The root surface area of the abutment teeth has to equal or surpass that of the teeth being replaced with pontics."

Meaning: if the dentist expects poor support, he/she will draw in more remaining teeth and the 4-unit bridge that people asked for, will become an 8-unit bridge.

As this means drilling at least 2 'new' teeth to stumps, it will be worthwhile to start thinking about dental implants....