Dental Bridges: Materials & Construction - What You Need to Know

A dental bridge is composed of three crowns. The middle crown replaces a lost tooth, while the other two crowns are put on the two adjoining teeth. Crowns and bridges are made of porcelain, precious and nonprecious metals, and plastics.

Plastic

• Plastic is used as the exposed portion of the false tooth in a bridge. The plastic used in crowns and bridges is the cheapest material available, though it doesn't last as long as porcelain-based dental fittings.

Porcelain

• In addition to using porcelain as the exposed portion of the bridge, porcelain is now being used to replace metal altogether in dental bridges. The all-porcelain option provides a look that's more in line with the look of real teeth.

Metal

• Metals are used to strengthen the bridge. Nonprecious metals are used in the base of the bridge, while precious metals are bonded with plastic or porcelain to form the replacement tooth.