[Cantilever bridges--a cross-sectional study]

Life expectancy and functional performance of the cantilever bridges is determined by the length of the cantilever pontic(s) and by the number and localisation of the abutment teeth. No overall epidemiological survey covering this topic was found in the literature. 529 distally cantilevered bridges were evaluated by the authors. There were 310 upper and lower cases. The following parameters were recorded: length of the cantilever part (number of units), the relationship of the cantilevered pontics and the bridge, and the position of the fixed restoration in the dental arch. Previously the cantilevered bridge design was not accepted in Hungary but in spite of this fact a large number of distally cantilevered bridges were made in the country. Most of the examined cantilever bridges are properly designed: two abutments are supporting one pontic (342 cases, 65.56%). However some of the solutions are too risky: one abutment, one cantilevered pontic (110 cases, 20.45%), or two abutments, two cantilevered pontics (53 cases, 9.85%).