What Affects the Cost of a Dental Bridge?

How a bridge fills a gap

A bridge replaces one or more missing teeth with a false tooth, called a pontic, that is held in place by the teeth or implants beside the gap. It is cemented in, so you don't take it out at night.

Because the bridge depends on its supports, you are really paying for more than the missing tooth. The anchor teeth are part of the treatment, and their condition shapes the plan.

Counting the units on a bridge

Dentists count a bridge in units. Each crown on an anchor tooth is a unit, and each false tooth is a unit. A common 3 tooth bridge replaces one missing tooth with two crowns on the teeth beside it, so it has three units even though only one tooth is missing.

Replacing two teeth in a row usually means four units, and so on. Each added unit brings its own lab charge and extra time in the chair. A long span can also put more strain on the anchor teeth, which affects whether a bridge is the right choice at all.

Types of bridges and how they differ

• Traditional bridge: crowns on the healthy teeth on each side of the gap hold the false tooth. The anchor teeth are filed down to fit the crowns.
• Cantilever bridge: used when there is a healthy tooth on only one side of the gap.
• Resin-bonded or Maryland bridge: often used for a front tooth. The false tooth is attached to thin wings bonded to the back of the neighbouring teeth, so less filing is needed.
• Implant bridge: anchored to dental implants instead of natural teeth, used when there aren't enough healthy teeth for support or several teeth are missing in a row.

The anchor teeth may need care first

Your dentist checks the supporting teeth closely with an exam and X-rays. A crown is only as good as the tooth beneath it. If an anchor tooth has a large old filling, decay, a crack or an inflamed nerve, it may need a build-up or root canal treatment before the bridge is made. Gum disease around the anchors should also be treated first.

If the missing tooth is about to be removed, the socket usually needs time to heal and reshape before the final bridge is made. A temporary option can fill the gap in the meantime. Each of these steps adds to the overall bridge cost, and each has its own line on your estimate.

Lab work, materials and visits

Most bridges take at least two visits. First, the anchor teeth are prepared and a mould or digital scan is taken, and a temporary bridge protects them. At the next visit, the final bridge is fitted, checked and cemented.

A dental laboratory usually makes the bridge. Per the Ontario Dental Association, the lab's bill sits on top of the dentist's fee as its own line. Porcelain, zirconia and porcelain fused to metal are common choices, and the material can change both the look and the lab charge.

Dental bridge cost and how coverage works

Bridge fees are set office by office, since Ontario dentists decide their own fees, often after checking the Ontario Dental Association suggested fee guide. Your insurer has its own fee schedule, and many plans list bridges as a major service with a lower share covered and a yearly maximum. Some plans also have a waiting period or a rule about teeth lost before the plan started.

A predetermination lets your insurer review the plan and tell you what it expects to pay. The ODA recommends sending an estimate that includes lab charges for this purpose. If you have the Canadian Dental Care Plan, ask us to check how it applies to your bridge, since some major services need preauthorization and CDCP fees may differ from the dentist's fee. Replacing a missing tooth is usually not urgent care, which is the main focus of the Interim Federal Health Program.

Bridge, implant or partial denture?

For a single missing tooth between two healthy teeth, the Canadian Dental Association notes that an implant avoids filing down those healthy teeth. A removable partial denture is another option, especially when several teeth are missing in different spots. Leaving a gap can let nearby teeth drift and make chewing harder over time.

Each choice has a different upfront cost and different upkeep. After looking at your mouth, your dentist can lay out which of these fit and what each one asks of you.

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