The quick answer is: No, a dental bridge is not a denture. However, if you are new to the world of prosthetics, you might not have the knowledge you need to differentiate between different tooth loss treatments. The good news is that with just a few new helpful facts, you will find yourself quickly understanding what makes these two devices unique from each other (though they clearly share some similarities, since both replace your teeth). Get ready for some simple clarification!
The Construction
These tooth loss treatments are not identical. However, they seem similar at first glance, which is why patients often become confused regarding the differences between a dental bridge and a denture. Here’s what you need to know:
- Bridges: A bridge is one continuous unit made up of artificial teeth. It’s fixed, meaning you wear it 24 hours a day every day (only a dental professional can remove it). It replaces one tooth or two to three teeth in a row.
- Dentures: A denture comes in two options, a full or partial denture. The full denture is one unit that can only replace your entire arch of teeth. A partial is a unit that may be composed of teeth in any pattern necessary to accommodate for natural teeth that still stand in your smile. Dentures are removable.
The Support
A dental bridge receives nonstop support from the teeth over which we bond each end crown. A denture receives support only when placed in your mouth (which is determined by you). Suction naturally occurring in your mouth offers the bulk of support. For partials, the addition of supportive claps that you place on natural teeth provides a bit more stability.
