HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

What characterizes a cantilever bridge?

1. It has no supporting end

2. It is entirely removable

3. It requires multiple adjustments

4. It is flexible and can be reshaped

The correct answer is: It has no supporting end

A cantilever bridge is characterized by having one end that is anchored and the other end that extends freely without any supporting end. This unique structural configuration allows the bridge to support loads at the unsupported end, relying on the principles of balance and stability. In dentistry, a cantilever bridge is used to replace missing teeth where one end of the prosthetic is anchored to a natural tooth while the other end extends over the empty space, hence it does not have a support on both sides. This design is particularly beneficial in situations where there are adjacent natural teeth on only one side of the gap. The other options do not accurately describe a cantilever bridge: while some dental prosthetics may be removable or require adjustments, a cantilever bridge specifically utilizes a single point of support which differentiates it from other forms of bridges or dental devices. Additionally, while flexibility and the ability to reshape can be features of certain prosthetics, they do not pertain to the defining structure and function of a cantilever bridge.