Cantilever bridge: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 05:18, 3 March 2025

Cantilever bridge

This medical device related article is a stub.

A cantilever bridge is a type of dental bridge used in restorative dentistry to replace a missing tooth. Unlike traditional bridges, which are supported by crowns on both sides of the missing tooth, a cantilever bridge is anchored on only one side. This makes it a suitable option in areas of the mouth where there is only one adjacent tooth available for support.

Design and Function[edit]

The cantilever bridge consists of a pontic, which is the false tooth, and an abutment, which is the supporting tooth. The abutment tooth is prepared to receive a dental crown, which is then attached to the pontic. This design allows the pontic to "cantilever" out from the abutment tooth, filling the gap left by the missing tooth.

Indications[edit]

Cantilever bridges are typically used in areas of the mouth that experience less stress, such as the front teeth. They are not usually recommended for the back teeth, where the forces of mastication are greater, as this can lead to complications such as tooth fracture or bridge failure.

Advantages[edit]

Requires less preparation of adjacent teeth compared to traditional bridges.
Can be a more cost-effective solution than dental implants.
Provides a fixed solution, unlike removable partial dentures.

Disadvantages[edit]

Increased risk of tooth decay and gum disease around the abutment tooth.
Potential for tooth mobility or tooth fracture due to uneven distribution of forces.
Not suitable for all areas of the mouth.

Maintenance[edit]

Proper oral hygiene is crucial for the longevity of a cantilever bridge. Patients should maintain regular dental check-ups and clean around the bridge using floss and interdental brushes to prevent plaque accumulation and gum disease.

Alternatives[edit]

References[edit]

["Cantilever Bridge." Dental Health Foundation.](https://www.dentalhealth.org/cantilever-bridge)
["Dental Bridges." American Dental Association.](https://www.ada.org/resources/dental-bridges)

Template:Dental prosthetics

Cantilever bridge gallery[edit]

Pierre Pflimlin Bridge
Tibetan Log Bridge
Cantilever Bridge Human Model
Cooper River Bridge
San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Old East Span Dismantle
Quebec Bridge
Vejle Fjord Bridge
San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge East Part
Howrah Bridge, Kolkata
Forth Bridge, Edinburgh

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Infobox bridge
-| name = Cantilever Bridge
+{{Infobox medical device
-| image = File:Tibetan log bridge.JPG
+| name = Cantilever bridge
-| caption = A traditional Tibetan log cantilever bridge
+| image =
-| carries = Pedestrians, vehicles, rail
+| caption =
-| design = Cantilever
+| uses = Dental restoration
-| material = Steel, concrete, wood
+| inventor =
-| span = Varies
+| manufacturer =
+| model =
+| introduced =
+| related = [[Dental bridge]], [[Dental crown]], [[Dental implant]]
 }}
-A '''cantilever bridge''' is a type of [[bridge]] that is constructed using cantilevers, which are structures that project horizontally into space, supported on only one end. This design allows for bridges to span large distances without the need for support piers in the middle of the span, making them ideal for crossing wide rivers or valleys.
+A '''cantilever bridge''' is a type of [[dental bridge]] used in [[restorative dentistry]] to replace a missing [[tooth]]. Unlike traditional bridges, which are supported by crowns on both sides of the missing tooth, a cantilever bridge is anchored on only one side. This makes it a suitable option in areas of the mouth where there is only one adjacent tooth available for support.
-==Design and Construction==
-Cantilever bridges are typically constructed using a combination of [[steel]] and [[concrete]], although traditional materials such as wood can also be used, as seen in the [[File:Tibetan log bridge.JPG|thumb|right|A traditional Tibetan log cantilever bridge]]. The basic principle involves two arms extending from opposite sides of the obstacle to be crossed, meeting in the middle. These arms are anchored at the ends and are balanced by counterweights.
-The [[File:Cantilever bridge human model.jpg|thumb|right|A human model demonstrating the cantilever principle]] illustrates how the cantilever principle works, with the arms extending outwards and being supported at only one end.
+== Design and Function ==
+The cantilever bridge consists of a [[pontic]], which is the false tooth, and an [[abutment]], which is the supporting tooth. The abutment tooth is prepared to receive a [[dental crown]], which is then attached to the pontic. This design allows the pontic to "cantilever" out from the abutment tooth, filling the gap left by the missing tooth.
-==Examples of Cantilever Bridges==
+== Indications ==
-One of the most famous examples of a cantilever bridge is the [[Forth Bridge]] in Scotland, which was completed in 1890 and spans the Firth of Forth. Another notable example is the [[Quebec Bridge]] in Canada, which is the longest cantilever bridge span in the world.
+Cantilever bridges are typically used in areas of the mouth that experience less stress, such as the front teeth. They are not usually recommended for the back teeth, where the forces of [[mastication]] are greater, as this can lead to complications such as [[tooth fracture]] or [[bridge failure]].
-The [[File:CooperRiverBridge.svg|thumb|right|Diagram of a cantilever bridge]] shows the structural design of a typical cantilever bridge, highlighting the cantilever arms and the central span.
+== Advantages ==
+* Requires less preparation of adjacent teeth compared to traditional bridges.
+* Can be a more cost-effective solution than [[dental implants]].
+* Provides a fixed solution, unlike [[removable partial dentures]].
-==Advantages and Disadvantages==
+== Disadvantages ==
-Cantilever bridges offer several advantages:
+* Increased risk of [[tooth decay]] and [[gum disease]] around the abutment tooth.
-* They can span long distances without the need for central supports.
+* Potential for [[tooth mobility]] or [[tooth fracture]] due to uneven distribution of forces.
-* They are stable and can support heavy loads.
+* Not suitable for all areas of the mouth.
-* They allow for construction over difficult terrain or water without the need for temporary supports.
-However, they also have some disadvantages:
+== Maintenance ==
-* They require careful engineering and design to ensure stability.
+Proper [[oral hygiene]] is crucial for the longevity of a cantilever bridge. Patients should maintain regular [[dental check-ups]] and clean around the bridge using [[floss]] and [[interdental brushes]] to prevent [[plaque]] accumulation and [[gum disease]].
-* They can be more expensive to build than other types of bridges due to the complexity of the design.
-==Dismantling and Maintenance==
+== Alternatives ==
-Cantilever bridges, like all bridges, require regular maintenance to ensure their safety and longevity. The [[File:SFOBB-OldEastSpanDismantleCropped.png|thumb|right|Dismantling of the old East Span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge]] shows the process of dismantling a cantilever bridge, which involves carefully removing the cantilever arms and central span.
+* [[Traditional dental bridge]]
+* [[Maryland bridge]]
+* [[Dental implant]]
+* [[Removable partial denture]]
-==Also see==
+== See also ==
-* [[Beam bridge]]
+* [[Dental restoration]]
-* [[Arch bridge]]
+* [[Prosthodontics]]
-* [[Suspension bridge]]
+* [[Tooth loss]]
-* [[Truss bridge]]
-{{Bridge types}}
+== References ==
+* ["Cantilever Bridge." Dental Health Foundation.](https://www.dentalhealth.org/cantilever-bridge)
+* ["Dental Bridges." American Dental Association.](https://www.ada.org/resources/dental-bridges)
-[[Category:Bridge types]]
+{{Dental prosthetics}}
-[[Category:Cantilever bridges]]
+[[Category:Dental materials]]
+[[Category:Dental procedures]]
+[[Category:Prosthodontics]]
+== Cantilever bridge gallery ==
+<gallery>
+File:Pierre Pflimlin UC AdjAndCrop.jpg|Pierre Pflimlin Bridge
+File:Tibetan log bridge.JPG|Tibetan Log Bridge
+File:Cantilever bridge human model.jpg|Cantilever Bridge Human Model
+File:CooperRiverBridge.svg|Cooper River Bridge
+File:SFOBB-OldEastSpanDismantleCropped.png|San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Old East Span Dismantle
+File:Quebec bridge pont de quebec.jpg|Quebec Bridge
+File:VejleFjordBridge.jpg|Vejle Fjord Bridge
+File:SFOakBrEastPartVEast.jpg|San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge East Part
+File:Howrah Bridge, Kolkata.jpg|Howrah Bridge, Kolkata
+File:ForthBridgeEdinburgh.jpg|Forth Bridge, Edinburgh
+</gallery>