ASPEN Dental Assisting Practice Exam 2026 – Complete Study Guide

A dental bridge describes a fixed prosthesis that spans the gap created by missing teeth and is anchored to the adjacent teeth. The bridge is made with crowns placed on the neighboring teeth (the abutments) and a replacement tooth or teeth (the pontic) filling the gap. Because it is cemented in place and not removable, it’s a fixed partial denture that provides both function and esthetics by bridging the space. This differs from terms like buccal, which refers to the cheek-side surface of a tooth; calculus, which is hardened dental plaque; and cavity, which means tooth decay.