Did you just come across an e-advertisement of a permanent, fixed dental bridge and feel like this is exactly what you need for your missing teeth?
Implant supported bridges are indeed the new gold standard for replacing multiple missing teeth, superseding traditional dental bridges for the better.
Edentulous people have spent decades trying to find a restorative solution that would bring them back their lost functionality and aesthetics, if not wholly then to a considerable extent, but had no option but to compromise on unreliable traditional bridges.
Though seemingly efficient, these fake teeth wouldn’t last long and required frequent adjustments or replacements.
Even advanced versions of traditional bridges that incorporate stronger materials can only last so much, and that’s because they’re weak by design.
Thankfully, now that we have multiple tooth implants we have a truly permanent solution for multiple missing teeth.
Curious to know how implant supported bridges work and what makes them so efficient? Read this blog to find out.
What Are Traditional Dental Bridges (And Why They’re Unreliable For Long-Term Restoration)
If you’re new to tooth replacement, let’s give you a clear comparative analysis of traditional bridges vs implant bridges so you can make a wise choice.
We’ll start with traditional bridges.
Traditional dental bridges are artificial tooth replacement devices that are used to replace consecutive missing teeth in partially edentulous people.
A traditional bridge is made from a variety of materials like PFM (porcelain fused to metal), zirconia, porcelain or gold alloys, and can replace as few as a single tooth and as many as 6 teeth.
The only condition is that these teeth should occur consecutively (in a row), and there should be strong well-placed natural teeth besides them.
A traditional bridge works by being cemented to the patient’s existing natural teeth at the sides of the bridge, while the body of the bridge suspends in the middle to fill up the gap left by missing teeth.
For example, consider that you have 6 consecutive missing teeth from canine to canine. You would need an 8-unit bridge to replace the said 6 teeth. The replacement would work as follows:
- The sides of the bridge (1st and 8th units) would be attached to the two existing natural teeth present beside the missing ones. In this case, these teeth would be the premolars.
- The supporting premolars, on which the bridge is to be attached, would have to be filed down and shaped into stubs to help accommodate the bridge. This would alter the premolars’ structure permanently.
- After shaping up, the bridge is attached to the premolars via special dental adhesives to keep the bridge in place.
- The body of the bridge would be suspended in the gap of the missing teeth, replacing them all.
Such a replacement looks solid from the outside, and it actually does work fine if administered by a professional, but it’s a superficial replacement nonetheless.
The bridge is entirely dependent on the supporting teeth and has no connection whatsoever to the jawbone, which means:
- It can become ill-fitted if the underlying adhesive becomes weak or the supporting teeth shift position or decay (which is very possible and a common risk associated with tooth-supported bridges because food tends to accumulate in between and around the bridge and the support teeth).
- You can get gum irritation and even gum infections if the bridge comes loose and presses on the gums.
- In case of trauma to the bridge, not only will the bridge be affected, but also the underlying supporting teeth.
Due to these issues, traditional bridges don’t last very long. They typically last between 5-10 years, and even then, they require adjustments in the meantime.
Why Dental Implant Supported Bridges Are The Most Reliable
Implant supported bridges are permanent bridges that successfully subvert all the shortcomings of traditional bridges.
These bridges aren’t supported by existing teeth but are rather supported by dental implants (fake tooth roots made of Titanium or Zirconia) placed in the jaw.
Dental implants are surgically placed in the toothless part of the jaw i.e. in the missing tooth gap, and a bridge is loaded onto them.
Just as your existing teeth are used to support the bridge in case of traditional bridges, the implants are used to support the bridge in case of permanent fixed bridges.
Implants provide a stable and strong base for the placement of bridges and connect them directly to the jawbone, acting like actual tooth roots.
About 2 implants (sometimes more for added stability) are usually needed to support a dental bridge. These two implants can independently and single-handedly support a 2-8 unit dental bridge, giving you a permanent replacement for all these missing teeth.
Applying the previous example to an implant supported bridge, here’s how you can get a replacement for 6 consecutively occurring missing teeth (canine to canine) using implants:
- 2 implants would be surgically inserted at the beginning and end of the missing tooth gap, i.e., canine positions.
- A 6-unit bridge would be mounted on the 2 implants with the help of abutments.
- You get a permanent replacement for all 6 teeth.
This replacement is inherently more efficient and reliable than a traditional tooth-supported bridge because:
- The implants would provide uninterrupted strength and support to the bridge, eliminating any risks of bridge shifting.
- There’s no risk of decay whatsoever because the bridge doesn’t depend on your existing teeth; it’s directly connected to the bone via implants. This also means you won’t suffer any painful gum irritation either.
- The bridge has impeccable functionality because of how strongly it’s supported by the implants (and by extension the jawbone). You get 85-90% of your chewing power back as compared to a maximum of 70% with traditional bridges.
- Your smile looks absolutely natural and beautiful. There’s no bulkiness or fakeness to the bridge because it fits seamlessly with the bone.
- The jawbone is constantly stimulated through the implants, which preserves its structure and health.
All these benefits make implant supported bridges highly reliable and efficient. Thus a regular implant can easily last for 20+ years (possibly even a lifetime); you would just need to replace the outer bridge as necessary.
Conclusion
To conclude, implant supported bridges are decisively the best solution to missing teeth because of their comprehensive, fixed design and perfect simulation of natural teeth anatomy.
Would you like to be evaluated for implant eligibility? Schedule a FREE consultation with Manhattan Smile Clinic, a premium dental practice located in New York, USA. Talk to our team of implant experts and pave your way to a healthy and beautiful smile!
