8221 Glades Road, Suite 4, Boca Raton, FL 33434
A Secure, Permanent Way to Replace Multiple Teeth
For patients who have lost more than one tooth, an implant-supported bridge offers a secure and permanent solution. Rather than relying on neighboring teeth or removable appliances, this restoration anchors a bridge directly to dental implants, giving you a stable, natural-looking smile that feels much like your own teeth. At Glades Dental Group in Boca Raton, we use implant-supported bridges to help patients restore both the function and appearance of their smiles for the long term.
Replacing missing or damaged teeth is essential to keeping your mouth healthy over time. A missing tooth causes far more than an unsightly gap in your smile. Tooth loss can cause your remaining teeth to shift toward the empty space, changing the alignment of your bite and even altering your facial aesthetics. Missing teeth can also make it harder to chew nutritious foods. Other tooth replacement options, such as removable partial dentures, simply are not as stable as an implant-supported bridge. With an implant bridge, you can regain the majority of your chewing function and enjoy the foods you love again.
Ask About Implant-Supported Bridges
What Is an Implant-Supported Bridge?
While a standard dental bridge can prevent most tooth-loss-related problems, an implant-supported bridge offers several important advantages. Traditional bridges rely on the adjacent teeth for support, which means these otherwise healthy teeth must be reshaped before the bridge is secured in place with dental cement. Using implants to anchor the bridge instead means that no healthy teeth need to be ground down in order to replace the missing teeth. This is one of the biggest benefits of choosing an implant-supported bridge, since it preserves more of your natural, healthy tooth structure.
An implant-supported bridge is essentially a replacement for several teeth that is permanently secured to dental implants. This gives it far greater stability than removable options and allows it to function much more like your natural teeth.
Who Is a Candidate for an Implant-Supported Bridge?
An implant-supported bridge may be an excellent option for you if you:
- Are missing more than one tooth, especially several in a row
- Want a permanent, stable alternative to removable partial dentures
- Prefer not to have your healthy adjacent teeth reshaped
- Want to restore your ability to chew and eat comfortably
- Are looking to help preserve your jawbone and facial structure
- Are in good enough general and oral health to support implants
A consultation with our dentists is the best way to determine whether an implant-supported bridge is right for you. We will assess your oral health, jawbone, and goals to recommend the most effective solution.
What to Expect When Getting an Implant-Supported Bridge
Getting an implant-supported bridge takes several appointments over a period of time, as the implants need to heal before the final bridge is placed. Here is a general overview of the process:
Placing the Implants
The first step is the surgical placement of the dental implants into the jawbone.
01
Healing and Integration
After placement, it usually takes several months for the bone and gums around the implants to heal and fuse securely.
02
Taking Impressions
Once the implant sites are healed, the dentist takes impressions of your mouth to create a precise model.
03
Creating Your Custom Bridge
Using this model, a lab technician crafts your custom bridge, color-matched to your existing teeth.
04
Placing a Temporary Bridge
While the lab works on your final bridge, you may be fitted with a temporary one to protect the area.
05
Placing the Final Bridge
When your permanent bridge is ready, the dentist secures it in place on the implants, either by screwing or cementing it.
06
How Many Implants Are Used?
The number of implants used to secure a bridge varies depending on each patient's situation. A common configuration is two implants supporting three teeth, with two cap teeth on either end and a bridging tooth in the middle. Our dentists will determine the ideal number of implants based on how many teeth are missing and the condition of your jawbone.
One of the key benefits of this approach involves your jawbone health. Dental implants can help prevent the ongoing bone loss that occurs when a tooth is removed. When you lose a tooth, the bone in your jaw no longer receives the pressure from your bite that signals it to regenerate. As a result, the body begins to resorb the bone, and the jawbone shrinks in that area. With an implant-supported bridge, the implants allow your bone to feel the force of your bite, keeping it stimulated. Some bone resorption may still occur beneath the middle of the bridge, but it will be far less problematic than the bone loss associated with a removable bridge or with no bridge at all.
Understanding the Value of an Implant-Supported Bridge
A fixed implant-supported bridge is a more cost-effective solution than individually replacing each missing tooth with its own implant and crown. At the same time, it is more of an investment than most removable solutions because of the implant surgery involved. The right treatment for replacing your missing teeth depends on your individual health and financial situation, and there is no single answer that fits everyone. At Glades Dental Group, we are always happy to discuss all of your options with you so you can make a confident, well-informed decision about your smile.
Restore Your Smile with an Implant-Supported Bridge in Boca Raton
If you are missing multiple teeth and want a secure, permanent solution, an implant-supported bridge from Glades Dental Group can restore your smile, your bite, and your confidence. Our caring team will guide you through every step of the process. Call us today at 561-883-2786 or request an appointment online to find out whether an implant-supported bridge is right for you.
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