Implant Supported Bridge
Lincoln Park, NJ
 Patients who have two or several consecutive teeth missing can choose implant-supported bridges as they provide a comfortable, natural-looking solution.
Dental implants serve to replace tooth roots, hence protecting the jaw from atrophy or bone loss. Therefore, they are a better solution for the replacement of missing teeth. Our team at The Implant Center at Comprehensive Dental is experienced in replacing and restoring dental implants through implant technology.
What are Implant Supported Bridges?
Although similar to conventional bridges, implant-supported bridges offer bridge support via dental implants. The dental implants are small titanium rods anchored into the jaw.
Usually, traditional bridges are supported by dental crowns fitted over adjacent teeth. With implant-supported bridges, the number of rods or implants depends on the bridge attachment and size.
Your Candidacy for Implant Supported Bridges
To qualify for an implant-supported bridge, you need stable oral health:
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You need to have sufficient tissue within the jawbone to help support the rods. Patients who have compromised jaw mass may need to undergo a preparatory procedure like bone grafting or sinus lift before their bridge procedure.
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Again, if you have oral health conditions such as tooth decay or gum disease, we will have to resolve those issues before we place implants.
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And if you smoke, you must be willing to stop the habit for some time before and after the surgery, and if possible, you should break the habit of smoking for good.
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Having uncontrolled diabetes may also exclude you from getting implants, however, you can have the condition managed before you have your implants placed. |
Implant Supported vs Traditional Bridges
Receiving implant-supported restorations requires that you first undergo implant surgery. The surgery requires two procedures, one involving the placement of the screws or rods, and the second, involving the fitting of the bridges, which often occurs four to six months after anchoring of the implant posts.
An implant-supported bridge requires a greater investment of time and has many advantages over conventional dental restoration options:
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Traditional bridges involve attaching the crown to the teeth surrounding the gap of the missing teeth. Implant-supported bridges do not rely on your other teeth for support. They do not need the removal of healthy tissue.
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Additionally, they are extremely stable. They will stay in while eating, speaking, and smiling, so you do not have to worry about them moving.
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Implant-supported bridges protect the jawbone from eroding since they stimulate it to continue growing.
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With proper care, the implant rods can survive a lifetime, often facilitating long-term oral health and bite function. |
Implant supported Bridge Treatment
The procedure requires several stages, often spaced out over a period of about six to nine months. Initially, our dentist will place dental implants or the rods surgically in the jawbone beneath the areas of the missing tooth. Once placed, you will need several months for the implants to bond and fuse with the jaw, a process referred to as osseointegration.
After bone fusing, the second stage involves opening up the gums and attaching abutment posts to the implants. You will need some time for the gums to heal before you get to the final stage.
In the last stage of treatment, our dentist will place dental bridges over the implants. The dentist utilizes a special compound to bond the bridge to the dental abutment rods. The adhesive secures the bridges, making them become a natural part of your smile.
Implant Supported Bridges vs Traditional Implants
Traditionally, dental implants have posts that are installed on the jawbones through a socket-like bone structure called the alveolar ridge. These posts act as anchors that hold the rest of the denture together. As long as the bone tissue is strong enough, it can give dentures the durability of a real tooth in terms of masticular function. This enables our patients with a dental implant to bite through food way easier than our patients with fitted dentures.
Crowns
All implants have three main parts: the implant post, abutment, and prosthesis. The post holds the abutment, which is essentially a screw where we fit the prosthesis on. That prosthesis is what looks like a real tooth when viewed.
Implant-supported bridges differentiate themselves from traditional implants by having retainer crowns instead of traditional, single prostheses.
This is a kind of dental crown that attaches to the abutment at its bottom, and to another type of crown called a pontic crown at the side. Two retainer crowns with a middle pontic crown together make an implant-supported bridge.
On the other hand, a traditional bridge is connected to a broken tooth like a sleeve. However, when you no longer have a tooth to fit a traditional bridge on, then implant-supported ones are ideal.
Maintenance
Caring for your implant-supported bridges is as simple as caring for real teeth. You will need to brush and floss your teeth regularly to keep plaque and tartar from accumulating and destroying the dental prosthetics. If you find it too hard to floss under the gums, then we can prescribe you a water flosser instead.
You will also need to avoid tobacco if you can. The nicotine present in tobacco can stain the porcelain surface of the bridge. This makes for the unsightly, yellowish tint that is hard to remove on your own.
As for the first few months or so, we would also need to check how well the implant-supported bridges fit on your gums. It can be quite hard to speak during this time while you are still getting used to your new teeth.
Visit Your Dentist in Lincoln Park, NJ Today!
Whether from tooth decay, periodontitis, or physical trauma, losing teeth is almost always stressful for a person. A missing tooth can lower your confidence, stress your mind, and seem unsightly, especially in young adults. If a single missing tooth can do that much, how much more will a group of teeth affect you?
Devastating as it is, with implant-supported bridges, we can bring back that graceful smile as if it never disappeared in the first place. Simply give us a call at (973) 578-6377 to schedule an implant dentistry consultation today! |
