“Edentulous spaces“ describe a scenario in which at least two or more adjoining teeth are missing. In other words, we are dealing with a larger gap bounded by existing teeth on both sides.
A bridge can certainly be made use of in a situation like this, however, the drawbacks are even more severe as compared to the classic gap: In this case, the neighboring teeth need to serve as “pillars“ for a longer and therefore less steady bridge. The damage caused to the healthy teeth by the process of abrasion does not necessarily have a serious impact until a later point in time, but is indeed irreversible. Moreover, the dental bone under the bridge recedes due to a lack of pressure. Gaps can develop in which food remains accumulate, causing tooth decay and peri-implantitis to arise.