Anterior cantilever bridge, an innovative contemporary alternative

Single missing anterior teeth frequently represent a great challenge: It is very difficult to replace them prosthetically and achieve great biological and esthetic results. The use of bonded bridges is not new and many authors have documented this subject. Conventional bonded bridges (with two retainers) are clearly a recognized prosthetic treatment and therefore deserve their place in the clinician’s therapeutic arsenal. The cantilever bridge (with a retainer on only one side) is a particularly attractive biological and biomechanical alternative. Studies scientifically support the use of cantilever bridges made of ceramic. Regarding the use of lithium disilicate, recent clinical studies report very positive survival rates. This solution is a smart alternative to the anterior implant, particularly in situations of lateral agenesis or trauma involving the loss of an anterior tooth, primarily in young patients, but also in adults and seniors. This is also confirmed by the personal experiences we have made since 2008. Thus, ceramic cantilever bridges are an attractive alternative to implants. However, practitioners need to select the clinical cases carefully and apply the procedure rigorously. During this lecture, we will analyse the fundamental and clinical aspects of the realization of bonded cantilever bridges made of glass-ceramic (lithium disilicate) based on 10 "recipes".