If you are missing one or more consecutive teeth, your dentist or orthodontist may suggest installing a dental bridge. For those who have lost their teeth, a dental bridge offers the opportunity to restore the functions of the mouth and improve the aesthetic appearance of your smile.
Traditional versus Implant Supported Bridges
With either type of treatment, you will be able to regain the functions you may have lost due to tooth loss. The benefits of a dental bridge include improving the aesthetics of the mouth, restoring the ability to chew, correcting the shape of the face, and making speech and pronunciation clearer.
What is a traditional dental bridge?
A traditional dental bridge is a type of fixed prosthesis used to replace one or more missing teeth. A dental bridge covers the space left by a missing tooth. In a traditional dental bridge, the bridge is attached to a person's remaining healthy teeth with artificial crowns.
In order for the dental bridge to be attached to the adjacent teeth, the adjacent teeth are modified beforehand, generally filed down to accept the new caps that will cover existing teeth and be joined to the prosthetic tooth or teeth that are replacing the missing ones. The bridge is then cemented permanently to the adjacent teeth. This means that the patient cannot remove the prosthesis because it is fixed in the mouth.
Implant Supported Bridge
As the name suggests, and implant supported bridge means implants are used to secure and support this dental bridge, instead of the adjacent teeth. These bridges are generally stronger, better for the health of your mouth, and are considered the gold standard for the replacement of two or more consecutive teeth in a dental arch. However, you must undergo surgery in order to install the implants that support the dental bridge. This is because the implant is an artificial root made of titanium that is installed in the jawbone. After a few months of healing, this titanium root starts to become part of your jawbone through a process known as ossification. When it is implanted, the surface of the implant is roughened, giving it a large surface area for ossification. Modern implants ossify tightly to the jawbone. In normal cases, the implant ossifies with almost 100% certainty. Once the implant is ready, the screw is fitted with a prosthesis that consists of one or more natural-looking prosthetic teeth (the bridge). Great care will be taken by your dentist to ensure that these prosthetic teeth match your smile and your bite perfectly.
Who can get an implant supported bridge?
In general, implants can be installed in basically healthy people who have passed the age of growth. Generally, the minimum age is approx. 20 years. There is no upper age limit.
When are implants not recommended to be installed?
- the growth of the jaws is in progress (children);
- some diseases, such as untreated diabetes, may prevent installation;
- oral hygiene is too bad;
- the patient smokes;
- the patient grinds his teeth (bruxism).