Hey! I'm Frankie, and welcome to my dental advice blog. I'm a foodie and I love sweet treats, but I also love my teeth! It can be hard to keep your dental health in top condition when you've got a sweet tooth, but it's not impossible. Over the years, I've learned tons of great advice from friends, family members and dentists, and I'd love to share it with you. My blog is here to give you all the tips and tricks you need to stay free of decay and other tooth problems without giving up all your favourite foods and snacks.
If you're missing a couple of teeth, then you may have decided to have the gap bridged. While you may have initially thought that your dentist would use a traditional bridge, they may suggest that you have an implant-supported bridge instead. How does this kind of bridge work, and what are its merits?
What Is an Implant-Supported Bridge?
Dental bridgework uses a small partial denture to cover gaps in the teeth. Traditionally, the denture has a few false teeth in it. The tooth or teeth in the middle of the bridge fill the gap and the ones at the end of the bridge fit over existing teeth at either side of the gap. They are cemented over the end teeth to fix the bridge in place.
Implant-supported bridges work in much the same way in terms of gap filling; however, they don't use your existing teeth for support. Instead, these bridges are fixed onto metal implant posts which are inserted into the bone in your gap areas, leaving your other teeth untouched.
What Are the Advantages of Implant Bridges?
Bridges that use implants for support don't affect the teeth at the sides of a gap. When you have a traditional bridge, these teeth are drilled down to make them small enough to sit under the bridge's retaining teeth. This permanently changes otherwise healthy teeth. Implant bridges don't use these teeth, as they are supported by a central post or posts instead.
Implants in general are also typically stronger than regular bridges and last for longer. If your bridge uses your teeth as support, then it may fail if these teeth develop problems in the future. This could leave you with a tricky problem to fix. Plus, implants have a long lifespan. They can last for life, while traditional bridges may need replacing after 10 years or so.
If you aren't sure if an implant-supported bridge is right for you, then ask your dentist why they are suggesting this option. In some cases, your dentist may simply feel that an implant bridge is a better long-term solution; in others, your dentist may feel that this is the best option for your teeth. For example, if the teeth around a gap aren't in great condition, then your dentist may not feel that they will give good enough support to bridgework, and you may be better off with implant support.
Contact a dentist to learn more about bridges.
Share17 August 2018
