The bridge at the end of the arch

In two previous articles (Anterior aesthetics without dysfunction 1 , 2 ), a patient with severe, asymmetric anterior tooth wear had her anterior guidance carefully re-restored with provisional plastic restorations, later replaced by definitive crowns. A subsequently constructed posterior adhesive bridge catastrophically fractured. This article discusses possible cause and effect of such failure, and suggests a way for better predictability when restoring the last tooth in the arch in general, and the construction of a posterior bridge at the end of the dental arch. CPD/Clinical Relevance: This article reviews the challenges associated with restoring the last tooth in the arch and explores strategies to achieve predictability, including its use as a distal bridge retainer.