Missing teeth disrupt chewing, speaking, and respiration and spoil the appearance of your smile. Drs. Ryan Lepore and Erin Dougherty at Lepore Comprehensive Dentistry suggest implant bridges to replace missing teeth. Patients come to Lepore Comprehensive Dentistry in Dunedin, FL, for this smile-saving service.
What Is An Implant Bridge?
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root. It resides in the jawbone, providing a stable foundation for dental restoration. Often, a single missing tooth is replaced with a dental implant topped with a porcelain crown. However, an implant bridge may be a better choice when multiple teeth are missing.
Implant Bridges: A Versatile Concept
A traditional bridge consists of an artificial tooth (or several) anchored by crowns cemented to natural teeth on each side of the gap. When three or more teeth in a span are missing, they can be replaced with an implant bridge without impact on healthy, adjacent teeth. Just two implants could serve as anchors for the bridge.
The Benefits Of Implant Bridges
Implant bridges not only restore the appearance of your smile, but also provide a lasting solution that mimics the function of natural teeth. They help maintain the structure of your face, prevent bone loss in the jaw, and ensure that your remaining teeth stay properly aligned. Unlike traditional bridges, which rely on adjacent teeth for support, implant bridges provide their own foundation, preserving the integrity of your healthy teeth. This advanced dental solution improves chewing, speaking, and overall comfort, giving you back the confidence to smile and live life to the fullest.
Are you a bruxer, clenching or grinding teeth during sleep? Drs. Lepore and Dougherty may recommend an implant for each missing tooth, with a one-piece bridge unit restoring the crowns. This technique spreads the force over a larger area, reducing pressure on any one implant (which could lead to implant failure).
Have you lost all teeth in an arch, or need to have them extracted? Drs. Lepore and Dougherty strategically place several implants to hold a full denture with amazing stability. An implant-retained denture can be affixed or removable. The implant bridge process:
- Implant placement is precisely planned and computer-guided, so the surgical procedure is brief.
- Typically, only local anesthetic or perhaps a light sedative is needed to keep you comfortable.
- If teeth have been missing for a while, the process may include bone grafting.
- Temporary teeth may be provided for aesthetics.
- Soft tissue incisions generally heal within a few days.
- Integration of implants with bone takes place over several months.
- Then, Dr. Lepore or Dr. Dougherty takes impressions of your mouth to design your bridge.
- They work with a professional dental ceramist on the fabrication.
- When implants are stable, the bridge is securely attached.
- You receive hands-on flossing instructions to keep oral tissues around the bridge clean and healthy.
There is no need to live with a gap in your smile. Call to schedule a consultation with Dr. Lepore or Dr. Dougherty in Dunedin, FL.
