A dental implant bridge can replace several missing teeth with a restoration supported by implants in your jawbone. It’s an option we recommend often at Carolina Dental Arts, and for good reason. Dental implants have an excellent long-term track record, and they give us a reliable way to replace missing teeth. But we have several ways to restore your smile, and each deserves consideration. We may recommend a traditional bridge, individual implant crowns, or even a removable partial denture. We believe you deserve to know your options, including the ones we might not recommend as often. Good dental care means taking the time to explain our thinking, listen to yours, and decide together.
What Is a Dental Implant Bridge?
You don’t necessarily need a separate dental implant for every missing tooth. When you’re missing several teeth in a row, we may be able to replace them with a dental implant bridge supported by fewer implants than the number of teeth being replaced.
We use both traditional and mini dental implants to support replacement teeth. Traditional implants generally have two pieces: the implant placed in your jawbone and an abutment that connects it to the restoration. Mini implants are narrower and typically have a one-piece structure, with the connecting post built directly into the implant. Their smaller diameter can also make them suitable for areas where the jawbone is too narrow for a conventional implant.
Regardless of which type we use, the implants serve as anchors for your bridge. For example, if you’re missing three teeth in a row, we may be able to place two implants, one near each end of the gap. The bridge connects all three replacement teeth, including the middle tooth, which often doesn’t need its own implant. When you chew, the bridge transfers biting pressure through the supporting implants into your jawbone.
We determine the number, type, and position of your implants based on the teeth you’re replacing, your available bone, and the support your bridge needs.
What Is the Dental Implant Bridge Process?
A traditional dental bridge replaces missing teeth similarly, but it uses the natural teeth on either side of the gap for support. We prepare these neighboring teeth much like we would for dental crowns, reshaping them slightly to make room for the bridge. We then take impressions or digital scans so a dental laboratory can create your custom restoration. Once the bridge is finished, typically in about two weeks, we check the fit and bond it securely in place.
Traditional bridges may be ideal when the neighboring teeth already need crowns. We can restore damaged or weakened teeth while replacing the missing ones, provided the supporting teeth are healthy enough to anchor the bridge.
There are other reasons we may recommend a traditional bridge. Treatment doesn’t require implant surgery or the healing period associated with dental implants, so you can often receive your final restoration sooner. Traditional bridges also tend to cost less upfront, which may influence your decision.
Both options have their advantages. We consider the condition of your remaining teeth, your jawbone, and your treatment goals before recommending one over the other.
Book a Complimentary Consultation To Explore Your Options!
We believe in dental implants, but we also believe in knowing when another treatment makes more sense. A dental implant bridge may be an excellent choice for you, or we may find that your natural teeth can provide the support you need. Either way, we owe you a recommendation based on what we see, what we know, and what will serve your oral health in the years ahead. At Carolina Dental Arts, we’re happy to explain our reasoning and take your concerns into account.
Schedule a free consultation at any of our three locations in Durham, Raleigh, or Goldsboro, NC, to discuss your options with our team.
