There are two porcelain bridge types, an all ceramic and a porcelain fused to metal. They both replace missing teeth but do it with significantly different materials. An all ceramic restoration looks gorgeous and closely resembles natural teeth. However, porcelain is brittle and can break easily. Because of this problem, most all ceramic restorations are placed in the front of the mouth where there are less forces placed on the teeth. Luckily, this is also the area where aesthetics is most important.

          A porcelain bridge that includes a metal understructure is strong and definitely the best choice is the back of the mouth. If carefully constructed by a qualified dental laboratory technician, the restoration can be designed to hide the metal. This is usually possible if the dentist properly prepares the supporting teeth so there's enough room for both the metal and the porcelain.

          New ceramics are being developed that are much stronger than the old ones and this is making it more common to see a porcelain bridge in a patient's mouth. However, they are still not as strong as metal supported restorations. This will most likely change in the next decade or so. New types of ceramics using different types of supporting crystals are used today and each type has different benefits.

          Dr. Mark Padolsky is a cosmetic dentist with the Atlanta Dental Group PC. He loves creating a beautiful smile for each and every patient he treats. Since a porcelain bridge is one of the most aesthetic dental restorations, it is the best choice in many patients. If you are interested in a new smile and would like to schedule a free dental consultation with our senior Georgia Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Mark Allan Padolsky, please make your appointment by calling 404-874-7428.