• Siriporn Arunpraditkul D.D.S., M.Sc.
• Jisadawan Riyatanon D.D.S.

Treatment options for replacing missing teeth can be implant, fixed partial denture and
removable partial denture. Nowadays, implant is more popular. However, it is expensive and most of
Thai patients cannot afford. Removable partial denture make the patients feel uncomfortable whereas
a fixed partial denture, conventional bridge, results in extensive abutment tooth preparation on both
ends of edentulous area. Cantilever bridge is an alternative treatment to substitute the missing tooth and
reduce extensive adjacent teeth structure loss. This article describes advantage, disadvantage, critical
factors for a success, classification, indication, and contraindication of cantilever bridge.

(CU Dent J. 2014;37:361-70)