Real cases from our clinic
Patients of Dr Haim Aseriel, photographed at the clinic and shared with their consent. Drag the line across the photo to compare.
Porcelain-fused-to-zirconia bridge: full smile makeover
- Real patients of the clinic
- Published with patient consent
- Every result is individual
How much does a dental bridge cost?
The cost of a dental bridge depends directly on the material, the number of units and how complex the preparation is; each factor is detailed below.
When a missing tooth is not replaced, the neighboring teeth tend to tip toward the gap, which leads to bite and aesthetic problems. A dental bridge solves this with an artificial tooth (pontic) anchored to crowns on the neighboring supporting teeth, restoring function and appearance. Unlike a dental implant, a bridge does not require surgery in the jawbone, which shortens treatment and simplifies the process for many patients.
Factors that affect dental bridge prices
The price of a dental bridge is affected by the position of the tooth, the material, the condition of the supporting teeth that carry the bridge and the number of units.
A standard three-unit bridge, which replaces one missing tooth and rests on two supporting teeth, is the most common option. The cost varies with the material: porcelain-fused-to-metal bridges usually cost less than full zirconia bridges, which offer an aesthetic advantage. An aesthetic advantage does not necessarily mean greater durability: for single crowns, according to a systematic review, the 5-year survival rate is about 92% for zirconia and about 95% for porcelain fused to metal (Sailer et al., Dental Materials, 2015).
- Position of the tooth: front teeth require more aesthetic precision than back teeth.
- Bridge material: zirconia and E-MAX usually cost more than porcelain fused to metal and are chosen mainly for their natural look.
- Condition of the supporting teeth: weakened teeth may need root canal treatment or a core build-up first.
- Number of units: each additional unit raises the total cost.
- Scope of treatment: a single bridge differs from a bridge that is part of a broader full mouth rehabilitation plan with preliminary treatments.
Cost components by type of bridge
| Component | Traditional bridge | Cantilever bridge | Resin-bonded (Maryland) bridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of units | A pontic and two crowns on the supporting teeth (3 units), more when several teeth are missing | A pontic and a crown on one supporting tooth | A pontic with one or two wings |
| Material | Porcelain fused to metal, zirconia or all-ceramic, depending on the position of the tooth and the chewing load | ||
| Preparing the supporting teeth | Both neighboring teeth are prepared for crowns; sometimes root canal treatment first | One supporting tooth is prepared, and it must carry the whole load | The wing is bonded to the inner side of the neighboring tooth |
| Temporary bridge | Between preparation and fitting of the permanent bridge | Between preparation and fitting of the permanent bridge | Depending on the case |
| Upkeep | Regular check-ups; a supporting tooth may later need root canal treatment | Regular check-ups; coming loose is the most common technical complication | Regular check-ups of the bonding |
Dental bridge cost over time: maintenance and repairs
According to a systematic review, about 89% of fixed bridges supported by natural teeth survived 10 years, but only about 71% remained free of any complication (Tan, Pjetursson et al., Clinical Oral Implants Research, 2004).
This makes an important point: the cost of a bridge does not end once it is placed. In the same review, the risk of the bridge coming loose over 10 years was about 6%, and supporting teeth may later need root canal treatment that was not anticipated at the start. That is why a realistic budget includes future maintenance costs, not just the initial placement.
Regular check-ups catch decay in the supporting teeth or a loose bridge early, when the repair is simpler. How often you need a check-up depends on your oral health and individual risk: for many people it is every six months, for others more or less often, as advised by the dentist.
Examination, treatment plan and price quote
detailed and personalized
During the consultation, Dr Haim Aseriel examines your teeth, explains all the options and gives you a transparent price quote, with no obligation. The clinic is at 12 HaTnufa Street, Jerusalem.
Cantilever and Maryland bridges: cost and considerations
A cantilever bridge, a special type of bridge supported by a single tooth, has a different cost-benefit profile from a traditional bridge.
According to a systematic review, about 82% of fixed cantilever bridges survived 10 years, compared with about 89% of traditional bridges; their most common technical complication was loss of retention, when the bridge comes loose (about 16%) (Pjetursson et al., Clinical Oral Implants Research, 2004).
89%
- Traditional bridge: survived 10 years
82%
- Cantilever bridge: survived 10 years
Unlike a traditional bridge, which needs supporting teeth on both sides, a cantilever bridge can be used where only one supporting tooth is available. Its cost is relatively lower, but the dentist checks carefully whether that single tooth can carry the chewing load. For front teeth, there is also the resin-bonded (Maryland) bridge with a single wing: in a review of anterior resin-bonded bridges, the 5-year survival rate was about 92% for single-wing bridges and about 85% for two-wing bridges, but the difference was not statistically significant (Mendes et al., European Journal of Dentistry, 2021).
Zirconia or all-ceramic bridge cost
A metal-free bridge usually costs more than a standard porcelain-fused-to-metal bridge, because of the material and the manufacturing process.
A metal-free bridge, made of full zirconia or E-MAX, offers an aesthetic advantage in the front of the mouth, where it is most visible.
With porcelain-fused-to-metal bridges, a dark line may become visible at the edge of the crown after some years, especially when the gums recede; metal-free bridges have no metal framework that could show. The bridge is made in a dental laboratory, digitally or by traditional methods, and matched to the shade of the patient's teeth; the clinic has its own dental lab with a dental technician, so the shade is matched on site.
Porcelain bridge cost
An all-ceramic porcelain bridge is usually priced between porcelain fused to metal and zirconia, and offers a highly aesthetic result on front teeth.
All-ceramic porcelain is often preferred in practice for front teeth, because its translucency is close to that of a natural tooth.
For back teeth under heavy chewing load, however, all-ceramic porcelain is less often chosen: compared with zirconia, it is more prone to fracture under high mechanical stress. The material is best chosen according to the position of the tooth and how each patient chews, not on cost alone.
Quoted for a "clear bridge" or "lingual bridge"? Those are braces
In everyday Israeli Hebrew, גשר ("gesher", bridge) is also slang for orthodontic braces: a "clear gesher" usually means clear (ceramic) braces, and a "lingual gesher" means lingual braces glued to the inside of the teeth. These are orthodontic treatments, priced according to the length and complexity of treatment, not dental bridges that replace a missing tooth; see teeth straightening.
When a tooth is missing and the teeth also need straightening, orthodontic treatment is sometimes done first to prepare the space, and the bridge or implant is placed afterwards. In that case, the estimate covers both treatments.
Your written estimate, receipts and insurance
After the examination, the clinic gives you a written estimate that details each stage (preparation of the supporting teeth, temporary bridge, the permanent bridge and its material). You can discuss it in English with Dr Haim Aseriel before deciding. The clinic provides itemized receipts that you can submit to your insurer, whether a US dental plan or Israeli supplementary insurance; whether and how much your plan reimburses depends on your policy, so check with your insurer before treatment.
Dental bridge cost: at the consultation at 12 HaTnufa Street in Talpiot, south Jerusalem, Dr Haim Aseriel assesses the supporting teeth, and you leave with a detailed written estimate.
Dental bridge cost: frequently asked questions
The cost of a dental bridge depends on the number of units in the bridge, the material chosen and how much preparation is needed, for example root canal treatment or a core build-up on the supporting teeth. The price can only be set after an examination and a treatment plan, so it is best to ask for a written estimate that lists what it includes.
The price of a dental bridge is affected by the position of the missing tooth, the material, the number of units and the condition of the supporting (abutment) teeth. Weakened supporting teeth may need root canal treatment or a core build-up before the bridge, and these treatments add to the total cost.
A zirconia or all-ceramic bridge usually costs more than a porcelain-fused-to-metal bridge and is chosen mainly for its natural appearance. It is not necessarily more durable: for single crowns, the 5-year survival rate is similar and even slightly higher for porcelain fused to metal, so the material is chosen according to the position of the tooth and the chewing load.
The cost of a dental bridge does not end once it is placed. According to a systematic review, about 89% of traditional fixed bridges survived 10 years, but only about 71% remained free of any complication, such as decay in a supporting tooth, the need for root canal treatment or the bridge coming loose. It is therefore worth budgeting for check-ups and possible repairs.
A cantilever bridge is supported by a single tooth on one side of the gap, so it needs fewer crowns and may cost less. According to a systematic review, about 82% of cantilever bridges survived 10 years, fewer than traditional bridges, so the dentist checks whether the supporting tooth can carry the load.
Sources
- Tan K, Pjetursson BE et al., Clinical Oral Implants Research, 2004 – Link to study
- Pjetursson BE et al. (cantilever bridges), Clinical Oral Implants Research, 2004 – Link to study
- Mendes JM et al., European Journal of Dentistry, 2021 – Link to study
- Sailer I et al., Dental Materials, 2015 – Link to study
- Fee PA et al., Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020 – Link to study
