What Is an Implant-Supported Bridge?
It's bad not only for your self-esteem, but also your overall oral health to have a missing set of teeth. Whether your teeth have fallen out, been pulled, or have been knocked out, it’s important to replace them for your ongoing oral health. One solution for patients that require the replacement of multiple missing teeth is an implant-supported bridge.
What Are Implant-Supported Bridges?
Implant-supported bridges are essentially a mixture between a traditional bridge and dental implants. Whereas a traditional bridge involves the reshaping of natural teeth to place the bridge, implant-supported bridges are secured in place via implants. Implant-supported bridges also replace more than one tooth, where a traditional implant replaces a single tooth.
An implant-supported bridge is a great option for a patient that needs more than one tooth replaced and has a strong enough jawbone to handle the placement of a dental implant or implants.
What Are the Advantages of Implant-Supported Bridges?
There are a few reasons for implant-supported bridges. These include:
- A full smile. Who doesn’t love having a full smile? Implant-supported bridges very closely mimic the surrounding teeth. This allows you to continue to smile wide.
- Bite strength. Implant-supported bridges are secured in place via sturdy implants. This allows you to bite into and enjoy your favorite foods.
- Stops migration. A major issue that people don’t realize when it comes to having missing teeth is teeth migration. Having a gap in your teeth can lead to the surrounding teeth migrating over time. This, in turn, leads to crowding, impacting, crooked teeth, and many other issues.
- Better oral health. Teeth migration can make it very difficult to brush and floss properly. This leads to an increased risk of cavities and gum disease. An implant-supported bridge stops migration which, in turn, helps your oral health.
Is an Implant-Supported Bridge Right for Me?
Whether or not an implant-supported bridge is right for you is a decision that needs to be made between your dentist and you. They will perform a visual exam and x-rays. This will allow them to see if your jawbone is strong enough to support implants. The strength of your jawbone is one of the biggest factors when it comes to implant-supported bridges.
Another consideration is cost and insurance. If you have dental insurance, it’s important to check your co-pay for the procedure. If you don’t have insurance, you’ll need to consider the overall out-of-pocket cost to have dental implants placed. If implants are out of your price range, you should still consider a traditional bridge.
Reach Out Today!
If you have missing teeth and need to have them replaced, reach out today. We’ll take a look at your teeth, gums, and jawbone to see what replacement option is right for you. If you are a candidate for an implant-supported bridge, we can discuss the procedure, costs, insurance coverage, and more in detail.
We look forward to speaking with you and helping with replacing your missing teeth.