How Many Teeth Does an Implant Supported Bridge Have
Dental implants are one of the best ways to restore missing teeth! They support bone health and are much more stable and comfortable than other traditional restorations. Dental implants can be used to support an individual crown or even a full arch of teeth. An implant-supported bridge utilizes two or more dental implants to support and implant restoration for multiple missing consecutive teeth, the exact number of implants used depends on the number of teeth being replaced.
A traditional bridge compromises the integrity of the teeth adjacent to the space because they are prepared to allow room for a crown to be placed on them. And unlike an implant-supported bridge, a traditional bridge allows for bone deterioration since nothing is available to stimulate bone growth. Implant bridges help maintain bone health and do not compromise the health of neighboring teeth!
What are implant-supported bridges made of?
As with all implant-supported restorations, an implant bridge is made up of multiple parts: the implants, the abutments, and the restoration. The implants and the abutments are fabricated from titanium and the restoration is typically made from porcelain. The restoration is fabricated using two implant crowns on each end of a series of pontics.
How many teeth can an implant-supported bridge have?
Depending on the number of teeth you need to have replaced and where they are in your mouth, you may need more than one bridge placed. Most bridges are made up of three to four teeth but they can support more. A three-tooth bridge will have two implant crowns and one pontic between them. A four-tooth bridge will have 2 pontics between the two implant crowns. A full arch is called an all-on-4 implant-supported denture and uses between four and eight implants per arch.
Implant-bridges have a number of advantages over traditional bridges. First and foremost, they support bone health and encourage bone regeneration. Dental implants act as artificial tooth roots to stimulate bone growth and prevent degeneration! Over time, patients with a traditional bridge may experience some bone loss at the site of their pontic due to a lack of stimulation and their bridge can become ill-fitting.
They are also easy to care for. Patients may find that a water flosser is a nice addition to their oral care routine to help flush food particles and bacteria out from under their bridge.
Good oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist for a professional cleaning and check up will help implant-supported bridges last as long as possible! If you are missing a number of consecutive teeth and would like to know more about implant-supported bridges, speak with your dentist to see if you are a candidate. Not everyone is able to endure implant placement surgery and the extensive healing time but if you are overall healthy and ready to upgrade your quality of life, see if an implant-supported bridge is a good option for you!