Understanding Implant-Supported Bridges

Dental implants and bridges are both types of restorations that dentists can provide for patients who have missing teeth. It’s also possible to combine these two treatments, which is known as an implant-supported bridge. Check out the following information and talk to your dentist to find out if an implant-supported bridge may be a good choice for replacing your missing teeth.

Overview of Implant-Supported Bridges

A traditional dental bridge consists of one or more artificial teeth. They are secured to the natural teeth on either side of the gap to hold the bridge in place. Although traditional bridges are a good option for many patients, there are some downsides. An alternative is an implant-supported bridge, which is held in place by dental implants, rather than by the adjacent natural teeth.

Components of Implant-Supported Bridges

One of the main components in this dental restoration is the implant itself. The implant is a small titanium post. Your dentist will place it directly into the jawbone. Depending on your specific needs, you may have multiple implants placed to hold up one bridge. The component that fits on top of the implant is the abutment; this is a small cylinder that screws onto the implant to act as a connecting piece between the implant and the restoration. The bridge is the visible part that looks like your natural teeth. It’s made of connected porcelain crowns, which are fused to a substructure made of metal.

Reasons to Choose an Implant-Supported Bridge

Implant-supported bridges are a good choice when it’s not ideal to have multiple individual dental implants. As a hypothetical example, let’s say that Patient Joan has three missing teeth, and she also has bruxism, which means she grinds her teeth together. If Joan gets individual implants, the force of the grinding can cause them to fail. But if Joan gets an implant-supported bridge, the force will be evenly distributed across the bridge, helping to prevent excessive wear and tear. Implant-supported bridges can also be a good choice for people with areas of thinning jawbone mass.

Implant dentistry is one of our specialties here at Glenwood Premier Dental. Our implant dentistry specialists in Hazlet will do a thorough exam before recommending the specific type of restoration that is best suited to your needs. New and current patients can reach us at (732) 264-4477.