Which dental appliance is a fixed prosthesis that spans a missing tooth space and is anchored to adjacent teeth?

• A. Implant
• B. Denture
• C. Dental bridge
• D. Alginate

Answer: (C)

A dental bridge is a fixed prosthesis that spans a missing tooth space and is anchored to adjacent teeth. It uses two prepared neighboring teeth (abutments) crowned to hold a pontic in between, forming a single, cemented restoration. This makes it a permanent solution that stays in place, unlike dentures which are removable, and unlike implants which are anchored directly into the jawbone rather than to adjacent teeth. Alginate is just a material used to take impressions, not a prosthesis.