Bridge types reference

Four types of dental bridges: cost, lifespan, and which one fits.

Traditional, cantilever, Maryland bonded, and implant-supported. Each has different costs, durability, and ideal use cases. Your dentist will recommend a type based on which tooth is missing, the health of the surrounding teeth, and your budget.

Quick comparison

Feature	Traditional	Cantilever	Maryland	Implant-supported
3-unit cost	$1,500-$5,000	$1,500-$3,900	$1,200-$2,550	$9,000-$16,500
Lifespan	10-15 yr	5-10 yr	5-7 yr	25+ yr
Surgery?	No	No	No	Yes
Adjacent teeth altered	Both sides	One side	Minimal	None
Strength	High	Medium	Low	Highest
Best position	Any	Back	Front	Any
Visits	2-3	2-3	1-2	4-6+
Total timeline	2-4 weeks	2-4 weeks	1-2 weeks	3-9 months
PPO coverage	Good (50%)	Good (50%)	Good (50%)	Variable

most common

Traditional bridge

Most missing-tooth situations, especially molars where strength matters. Works for any tooth position.

$1,500 - $5,000

$500 - $1,667 per unit · 10-15 years

The dominant tooth-supported bridge, accounting for roughly 70% of bridges placed. Two crowns sit on the teeth either side of the gap (the abutments), with one or more pontics (replacement teeth) suspended between them. The abutments are reduced by 1.5-2 mm on all surfaces to make room for the crowns. This is irreversible.

Materials & pricing

PFM 3-unit at $1,500-$2,550. All-ceramic at $1,950-$3,300. Zirconia at $2,100-$3,600.

Advantages

Strongest tooth-supported option with decades of clinical track record
Works at any tooth position
Predictable lab fabrication
PPO insurance typically pays 50% of major-restorative

Limitations

Requires permanently grinding two healthy teeth
Abutment teeth can develop decay under crowns
Cannot be repaired if the framework fractures, full remake required
Higher total cost because of three or more units of material

Cantilever bridge

The terminal end of an arch where only one neighbouring tooth is available, for example the last molar with no tooth behind the gap.

$1,500 - $3,900

$700 - $1,500 per unit · 5-10 years

Anchored on only one side instead of both. One or two abutment crowns hold the pontic in cantilever, concentrating bite stress on the single anchor. Less tooth preparation overall, but more force on fewer teeth and a shorter lifespan.

Materials & pricing

Same materials as traditional. Cost can run lower because fewer units may be needed.

Advantages

Only one abutment tooth instead of two
Lower cost when fewer units are needed
Useful when only one adjacent tooth exists
Preserves tooth structure on the unanchored side

Limitations

Higher stress on the single anchor due to lever effect
Shorter lifespan of 5-10 years
Anchor tooth may loosen or tilt over time
Not suitable in heavy-bite zones

most conservative

Maryland bonded bridge

Front teeth where bite forces are lower. A frequent choice for younger patients, or as a stop-gap before an implant.

$1,200 - $2,550

$400 - $850 per unit · 5-7 years

Resin-bonded or adhesive bridge. Instead of full crowns, metal or porcelain wings are bonded to the back surfaces of the neighbouring teeth with resin cement. Adjacent teeth need only a light enamel etch, preserving almost all natural structure. The most conservative tooth-supported bridge.

Materials & pricing

Metal-framework + porcelain pontic at $1,000-$1,800. All-porcelain (zirconia wings) at $1,500-$2,550.

Advantages

Minimal preparation preserves the adjacent teeth
Lowest cost of all bridge types
Largely reversible because teeth are not permanently altered
Quick procedure, sometimes one visit

Limitations

Weakest retention, wings can debond
Not suitable for molars
Shorter lifespan of 5-7 years
Metal wings can show as a faint shadow through translucent front teeth

longest lasting

Implant-supported bridge

Three or more adjacent missing teeth, or when adjacent natural teeth are not strong enough to anchor crowns. Preferred when long-term cost of ownership matters.

$9,000 - $16,500+

$3,000 - $5,500 per unit · 25+ years

Supported by titanium posts placed in the jawbone, not by natural teeth. Posts integrate with bone over 3-6 months (osseointegration), then an abutment and bridge are attached on top. Two implants typically support a 3 to 4-unit bridge, avoiding the need for one implant per missing tooth.

Materials & pricing

Titanium posts ($1,500-$3,000 each) plus the bridge framework ($2,000-$6,000). Total includes surgical placement, healing abutments, and final prosthetic.

Advantages

Longest-lasting option, posts can last a lifetime
Does not damage natural teeth
Prevents jawbone resorption through mechanical stimulation
Two implants can replace 3 or 4 missing teeth

Limitations

Highest upfront cost by a wide margin
Requires oral surgery with 3-6 month healing
Not suitable without sufficient bone, may need grafting
Insurance coverage is more limited than tooth-supported bridges

Which type fits your situation

Missing molar with healthy teeth on both sides

Traditional

Standard scenario. Handles molar bite forces well. PFM 3-unit costs $1,500-$2,550 and lasts 10-15 years. Zirconia ($2,100-$3,600) lasts 15-20 years.

Front tooth missing, want minimal alteration

Maryland

Conservative at $1,200-$2,550. Preserves adjacent teeth. Trade-off: 5-7 year lifespan. For permanence, an implant ($3,000-$5,000) is often the better long-term value.

Missing the last tooth in the arch

Cantilever

Designed for this exact case. $1,500-$3,900. Watch for stress on the lone anchor. An implant is a strong alternative if bone density allows.

Three or more adjacent missing teeth

Implant-supported

Almost always recommended for spans of 3+. A traditional bridge spanning that distance is structurally fragile. Two implants under a 4-6 unit bridge cost $8,000-$16,500+ but are strongest and longest.

Younger patient saving for an implant later

Maryland

Conservative interim solution. Does not permanently alter adjacent teeth, keeping all future options open. Holds the gap for 5-7 years.

Frequently asked

Which type of dental bridge is strongest?

Implant-supported bridges are the strongest because they are anchored to titanium posts embedded in the jawbone, not to natural teeth. Among tooth-supported bridges, traditional zirconia bridges are the strongest material option, with a flexural strength above 1,000 MPa compared to 300-400 MPa for all-ceramic porcelain. For molars, a traditional zirconia bridge or an implant-supported bridge is the standard recommendation.

Can I get a Maryland bridge on a back tooth?

Maryland bridges are not recommended for molars because the bonded wings cannot withstand the high bite forces generated by chewing. The wings can debond, causing the bridge to loosen or fall off. Maryland bridges are best suited for incisors and sometimes canines where bite forces are typically 30-50 lbs compared to 150-200 lbs for molars.

How do I know which type of bridge I need?

A licensed dentist will recommend a type based on the location of the missing tooth, the health of the adjacent teeth, your bite alignment, bone density, and your budget. Most patients receive a traditional bridge because it is the most versatile and cost-effective option. Always get a written treatment plan with itemised codes (D6750, D6242, etc.) and a pre-treatment estimate from your insurer.

Can a dental bridge be removed once cemented?

A permanently cemented bridge is not designed to be removed and reused. A dentist can remove a bridge by cutting through the bridge material, which destroys it. Temporary bridges placed during the lab fabrication period are cemented with provisional cement and come off easily at the placement appointment.

What if my adjacent teeth are not strong enough for a traditional bridge?

If the adjacent teeth have large fillings, root canals, or significant structural damage, they may not safely support a traditional bridge. Common alternatives are post-and-core buildups ($300-$600 each) before crowns, or switching to an implant-supported bridge that bypasses natural teeth entirely. A Maryland bridge is another option for front teeth because it requires only minimal preparation.

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Cost overview Materials compared Bridge vs implant Insurance coverage Front vs back teeth