Double Tooth Implant
Since the 1960s, dental implants have been providing dependable, attractive, and durable tooth replacement solutions, from single tooth replacement to a full set of implant-retained dentures. Another excellent use of dental implants for tooth replacement is the implant-supported bridge. This is a dental implant system capable of supporting two or more prosthetic teeth in a freestanding design. This means that unlike fixed bridges or removable partial dentures, dental implants can provide the prosthetic replacements required without relying on neighboring teeth as anchors. For this reason, implant-supported bridges can provide a healthier, less damaging alternative to traditional bridges and dentures; and they look and feel better, too!
Creating and Placing Implant-Supported Bridges
Replacing two adjacent teeth with implant-supported bridges is more akin to installing a single dental implant than it is creating a traditional fixed bridge or removable partial denture. First, a dental implant fixture is surgically inserted below the gums into the hard tissue of the jawbone, where it is then left to meld and become one with the bone. This is possible due to the highly biocompatible nature of titanium and zirconia, the two materials used to create dental implants.
After a few months, when the implants have fully fused with the jaw, a small connecting piece called an abutment is attached. Typically, a short healing period must be observed immediately following this procedure to allow the gums to heal. Once that healing process is complete, the implant-supported bridge itself can be attached to the abutment and the process is complete.
Three Main Benefits of Implant-Supported Bridges
On the surface, implant supported bridges don’t look much different than the fixed bridges or removable partial dentures that they improve upon, but the benefits of this technology go well beyond what meets the eye.
First, implant-supported bridges consist of a freestanding prosthetic system that does not rely upon other teeth in the patient’s mouth for support. This is preferable because it doesn’t cause more wear and tear to those teeth; they benefit from the prosthetic teeth being in place because they aren’t forced to move and shift, but they aren’t negatively affected in any way.
Second, the prosthetic roots that are part and parcel of dental implants create better jawbone health by stimulating the bone as natural teeth roots would. This can help preserve the structure of one’s mouth and face as the implant fixtures work under the gumline to stave off the bone loss than can come with missing roots.
Third, due in no small part to the incredible strength that the implant fixtures provide, dental implants in general are simply more functional and durable than fixed bridges or any kind of conventional dentures. They look, feel, and act just like natural teeth because they’re designed just like natural teeth; they may be tiny, but they certainly are mighty!
Good Candidates for Implant-Supported Bridges
The best way to find out if you are a good candidate for an implant-supported bridge is to consult with a trusted dentist or oral surgeon. She or he will ask some questions about your overall health, do a quick oral exam, and perhaps take X-rays to examine your jawbone. While many people are excellent candidates for dental implants, a few considerations are key, including baseline health, underlying conditions, and the availability of healthy bone mass into which an implant fixture can be inserted. To find out more about your candidacy for implant-supported bridges, call your local dentist today.