Most Conservative Bridge — ORE Part 1 MCQ

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EasyRestorative DentistryMost Conservative BridgeORE Part 1

A 30-year-old patient requires replacement of a single missing maxillary anterior tooth with a bridge. The potential abutment teeth are vital, unrestored and periodontally sound. Which bridge design preserves the greatest amount of tooth structure?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: D — Single-retainer resin-bonded cantilever bridge

Explanation lettering: B = shown as A · C = shown as B · E = shown as C · A = shown as D · D = shown as E

A is correct. A single-retainer resin-bonded cantilever bridge is bonded mainly to enamel and requires only minimal preparation of one abutment. It is therefore the most tooth-conserving bridge option for vital, unrestored anterior teeth. Resin-bonded bridges are a conservative alternative to conventional fixed bridges, and single-retainer anterior designs have favourable survival. A Rochette bridge is adhesive but uses an older perforated metal retainer; it is not the preferred modern resin-bonded design. Conventional fixed-fixed bridges and conventional cantilever bridges require full-crown preparation, removing considerably more sound tooth tissue. A spring cantilever bridge also depends on a conventional crown retainer, so it is not the most conservative option.

Reference: Balasubramaniam GR. Predictability of resin bonded bridges - a systematic review. British Dental Journal. 2017. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28703151/