A patient is missing a single posterior tooth with healthy, minimally restored adjacent teeth and good bone support. Compared with a removable partial denture, a fixed partial denture (bridge) is generally preferred because it:

A fixed partial denture is cemented and non-removable, giving superior function, comfort, and patient acceptance for a short-span posterior gap with sound abutments, versus a removable partial that must be taken out and is less stable.Other options: An FPD does require abutment reduction and removes more tooth structure, and it is usually more expensive; an implant preserves adjacent teeth best, but between FPD and RPD the fixed option wins on function and comfort.Key exam takeaway: Short span with sound abutments favors a fixed bridge for comfort/stability; RPDs suit long spans, no distal abutment, or economic/multi-space situations.