For centuries (and perhaps longer), dental bridges have been a standard and highly effective method of replacing lost teeth. The custom-designed dental prostheses can fill the gap in your smile following the loss of a tooth, restoring your smile’s appearance as well as your bite’s balance and ability to function properly. At our Conroe, TX, dental office, we also offer dental bridges (and other prosthetic options) supported by one or more dental implants. The lifelike implant posts can be inserted into the jawbone, acting as prosthetic teeth roots to support your bridge with substantially more comfort and stability.
How a traditional bridge works
The defining difference between a dental implant bridge and a traditional one is the method of support. Traditionally, a dental bridge consists of a custom-made pontic (replacement tooth), or multiple adjacent pontics, supported by a pair of dental crowns. The crowns are bonded to the healthy, natural teeth that are closest to either side of the gap in your smile. These teeth, known as abutment teeth, support your bridge and hold it securely in place as you bite, chew, smile, speak, and more. However, they also require modification to support the bridge’s dental crowns, which means sculpting some of their healthy structure.
How dental implants work
Dental implants, which are designed to mimic healthy, natural teeth roots, are inserted into the empty space in your jawbone. The posts, which are adorned with abutments once your jawbone has healed, can be used to support your dental bridge in a more lifelike and stable manner. Instead of relying on abutment teeth for support, we can secure your bridge (or crown, if you’ve only lost one tooth) to one or more implant posts, creating a more lifelike replacement for your lost teeth.
If you already have a dental bridge
If you already have a traditional bridge supported by abutment teeth, then you may still benefit from upgrading to a dental implant-supported one. After implanting the posts and securing your prosthesis to them, we can custom-designed appropriate restorations for the modified abutment teeth. For example, lifelike dental crowns can be designed and placed over them, without a bridge attached to them, to restore their health and integrity along with the rest of your smile.
Learn if implants are a better a choice
While traditional dental bridges are still an effective solution for replacing lost teeth, they can do more with the help of one or more dental implant posts. For more information, schedule a consultation by calling the Dental Centre of Conroe in Conroe, TX, today at (936) 441-4600. We also proudly serve patients who live in Houston, The Woodlands, Willis, Montgomery, Magnolia, Huntsville, and all surrounding communities.