Implant Bridge
Dental bridges are used to replace a set of successive missing teeth. There are two types of bridges. First, there is the traditional one that is supported by the adjacent teeth on either side. The other alternative is to use implant bridges whereby they are secured permanently using titanium implants attached to the jaw bone.
The doctor has sufficient experience in placing implant-supported bridges for our patients. The entire process can take up to nine months, but the result is very satisfying. With traditional implants, there is always the risk of the cementing material eroding with time. There is no such risk with implant bridges, and you can use them more comfortably.
Initial consultation
However, whether you are a candidate for implant-supported bridges will be clear only after a thorough checkup. Visit the clinic on the scheduled appointment so that we can evaluate your situation. The doctor uses intraoral cameras and digital x-rays to ascertain the presence of sufficient bone at the site of the missing teeth. In case there is not enough bone, you may have to undergo an additional procedure of bone grafting and sinus lifting.
Patients having certain chronic conditions such as a history of heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure may not be eligible for an implant procedure. Patients with bleeding disorders are also considered ineligible. We can provide you with an individual assessment only after an initial consultation.
Implant placement
The procedure will be performed under local anesthesia. The titanium screws (implants) will be placed surgically in the jawbone. You will have to wait until the gums heal completely. This healing phase is important because of osseointegration, or assimilation of the foreign body to your body.
Abutment placement
Once the gums have healed, the custom abutments are placed. The doctor will place healing abutments, which lead to the formation of ‘collars’ in the gum around the base of the crown (teeth).
The doctor will place temporary teeth on the healing abutments for completing the healing process. Depending on the assessment, the doctor either uses a composite bridge, a suck-down retainer, or a partial bridge. These temporary teeth will serve both aesthetic and functional purposes until the implant bridge is fixed.
Taking the impression
At your next appointment, the doctor will briefly remove the healing abutments and the temporary teeth. The doctor will then place an impression coping on the implants to determine the angle and the position of the crown. The doctor will take impressions of the implants and the surrounding teeth. It will be sent to the dental laboratory for manufacturing your custom abutments and ceramic dental bridge. At the end of this appointment, the doctor will place the healing abutments and the temporary teeth back in place.
Final step
You will be called for a cementation appointment once the final replacement teeth and the abutments are available. The doctor will remove the healing abutments and attach the actual ones. If the abutments fit well, the artificial teeth are placed. Not all of these artificial teeth are supported by implants. The ones that are not supported by implants are called pontics.