At Brickell Dental Care, we place implant bridges to restore multiple lost teeth in a row. We use zirconium implants: a durable material with high aesthetics. We perform in-depth diagnostics before placing the denture, so the bridge fits perfectly on the implant and does not create a feeling of discomfort.
What is an implant bridge?
It is a fixed structure that is used to restore several teeth in a row. It consists of three or more fused crowns that are attached to implants that are pre-installed in the jawbone.
A bridge on implants can be:
- Partial. Replaces 3 to 5 teeth that are next to each other.
- Full. Restores the entire tooth row (12-14 crowns).
When is an implant bridge placed?
When one or two teeth are lost, a bridge is not suitable. The dentist restores teeth using the “one implant – one crown” scheme.
A bridge is used when:
- There are no 3 teeth. The “gold standard” for bridges is two crowns on supported implants and one unsupported intermediate crown.
- No 4 teeth. Three anchor points are needed for restoration, otherwise the structure will not be as strong. Exception – frontal teeth: 2 implants and a bridge with 4 crowns, 2 of which will be hinged.
- No 5 teeth. The doctor places at least three implants in order to keep the “formula” – two supports with one false crown between them.
It is possible to restore teeth with long bridges, but there is a risk that one of the crowns will be damaged under heavy chewing loads. Then the entire structure will have to be replaced. Therefore, it is better to install a bridge and several single crowns.
Full bridges on the upper and lower jaw
If the entire tooth row is missing, the bridge is reinforced with a metal arch. The doctor calculates the number of implants and the length of the bridge. When making a decision, he takes into account the extent of the defect, the volume and density of bone tissue.
There are several schemes for restoring teeth with complete adentia:
- Placement of four implants. Four anchor points are enough to fix a bridge for 10-12 crowns. The technique is called All-on-4, suitable for implantation of the lower jaw, the bone tissue of which is more dense.
- Placement of 6 implants. Six anchor points provide a stronger fixation in the upper jaw, as the bone tissue there is more fragile and narrow.
Contraindications
Limitations to implant bridge placement are the same as for implantation. Absolute contraindications:
- Blood clotting problems.
- Immunodeficiency.
- Malignant neoplasms in the oral cavity.
There are also relative contraindications:
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding period.
- Bruxism. Teeth grinding is increased pressure on the crowns. Therefore, the clinic uses zirconium dioxide to prevent chipping and microcracks on the surface.
- Gum diseases. Before implantation, we treat and place implants using the Bone Control Design system. It minimizes trauma to the soft tissues.
- Heart disease. Implantation is not possible less than six months after a heart attack. Also, it cannot be performed with a pacemaker, as it may work unstably due to the operational stress on the body.
- Diabetes mellitus. Implantation can be performed only if it is possible to control blood sugar levels. We use Straumann implants with SLActive coating, which accelerates bone regeneration.
Advantages of an implant bridge
- The chewing load is distributed evenly
The doctors precisely calculate the points for the titanium rods. The implants are equally spaced and support the hinged part of the structure. The pressure during the bite is distributed over the surface of the bridge and rests on the implants. This ensures that the bite is not distorted and the denture does not crack or chip.
- There is no need to trim the retained units
Before prosthetics of your own teeth, the doctor grinds the enamel and creates a stump on which he places the bridge. With implant dentures, no teeth will be damaged.
- Even the outermost units can be restored
Thanks to the implant support, a bridge can be placed even if the supporting teeth are missing.
Can a bridge be placed on an implant and a tooth at the same time?
No. The natural tooth and the implant can withstand different chewing loads, so the natural ground unit wears out faster. As a result, it may fall out and the entire structure will have to be replaced. It is better to fix the bridge completely on the implants, as they are guaranteed for life by the manufacturer.
Care of the bridge
There are only two rules:
- Maintain good oral hygiene at home. Use a medium-hard toothbrush and toothpaste without abrasive particles to avoid damaging the surface of the dentures. You can also use an irrigator to help remove dirt from the hardest to reach places.
- Visit a dental clinic once every six months. Such visits are necessary to notice the problem in time and eliminate it. Also in dentistry, professional cleaning of teeth is carried out to remove plaque and pigmentation, which are difficult to remove on your own.