What are Implant Supported Bridges Made of
Advances in dental technology give doctors the ability to provide their patients with beautiful, natural-looking dental restorations. Traditional restorations such as bridges, partial dentures and complete dentures all look much more aesthetically pleasing these days but other treatments that utilize the support and stability of dental implants far outshine their traditional counterparts!
Patients that have lost two or more consecutive teeth have a great option in implant-supported bridges which we will take a closer look at here. But first, let’s learn a bit about dental implants.
What is a dental implant and how is it placed?
A dental implant is made up of three parts: the implant, an abutment, and the implant restoration (fake tooth). The implant is a titanium post that is surgically placed directly into the jaw bone by an oral surgeon or periodontist. The implant is left to heal and integrate with the bone tissue which can take up to six months. The extensive healing time ensures a stable foundation for the restoration! The abutment is the connecting piece between the implant and the restoration. It screws onto the implant and the restoration is then able to affix to the abutment, all held in place by the implant.
Dental implants are used to replace an individual tooth with one implant crown or can be used to support multiple missing teeth on one or more implants. Dental implants can even be used to support a full denture! Implants are incredibly stable and have the ability to last a lifetime. They also support bone health by acting as the root of a tooth, stimulating bone regeneration and preventing deterioration.
What is an implant-supported bridge?
An implant bridge utilizes two or more implants to support a bridge that can replace multiple missing consecutive teeth. 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. The number of pontics corresponds to the number of teeth being replaced. 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.
Implant-supported bridges have a success rate above 95% so they are considered a permanent restoration and with proper care and maintenance, can potentially last a lifetime!
If you are missing two or more teeth in a row, ask your dentist if you might be a candidate for an implant-supported bridge!