Used to replace several missing teeth, an implant-supported bridge can work in the upper or lower jaw. Because of their positive effects on oral health, their durability, and their appearance, implant-supported bridges can help improve several aspects of a patient’s quality of life.
A traditional bridge fills in the gap in your smile by using existing natural teeth to support pontics, or artificial teeth. Though this restores chewing capability, the jawbone still loses density without teeth roots. Alternatively, an implant-supported bridge attaches to dental implants placed in the jawbone. These implant posts mimic the movements of natural teeth roots, actively preserving the bone structure. Today, we will explore four benefits of implant-supported bridges.
If you have considered replacing missing teeth with a bridge, call us at (559) 297-1294 to discuss whether an implant-supported bridge will work for you. Dr. Denes and his team at our Fresno, CA dental office will gladly answer your questions.
#1: Preserves Teeth Structure
Traditional bridges require modification of the natural adjacent teeth. Additionally, the pressure of supporting a bridge gradually affects teeth over time, potentially damaging them and making them more susceptible to decay and deterioration. With an implant-supported bridge, teeth surrounding the gap left by missing teeth will not shift. Teeth adjacent to the gap will remain uncompromised, as the bridge support moves from those teeth to the titanium implant posts. Therefore, healthy tooth structure can be left intact.
#2: Stimulates the Jawbone
Without a tooth and its root, the jawbone fails to receive stimulation from chewing forces that cause the body to maintain bone tissue. In the absence of this pressure, bone resorption occurs in which osteoclasts break down the tissue in the jawbone and release the minerals essential to bone strength and density. An implant mimics a tooth and its root to exert similar pressure, halting or preventing future bone loss.
#3: Made of Biocompatible Material
The visible part of an implant-supported bridge will resemble your natural teeth in shape and color and will have the translucent qualities of enamel. The titanium implant posts become part of the jawbone in a process called osseointegration, in which bone cells accept and attach to the implants. For approximately 50 years now, dental implants in their current form have helped patients replace their missing teeth.
#4: Implant Process
During a comprehensive examination, Dr. Denes will review your medical and dental history. For precise implant placement, he will take pictures of the soft and hard tissues of your mouth with an intraoral scanner and CBCT scans. This imaging session provides Dr. Denes with detailed pictures of the teeth, gums, sinuses, and nerves that help plan each step of the implant surgery procedure. From the images, he will create a surgical guide that shows the exact placement and angle for each implant.
You will receive anesthetic during the implant surgery, which typically takes about an hour. To place the implants, Dr. Denes will use the surgical guide created from the images of your mouth, creating an incision in the gums, drilling into the jawbone, and placing the titanium posts. For an implant-supported bridge, the jawbone will need to heal and accept the implants prior to final placement of the bridge.
Contact Us for More Information
We can help you if you have considered dental implants to replace your missing teeth. Call us at (559) 297-1294 to schedule a consultation for an implant-supported bridge at Fresno Dental Studio in Fresno, CA.