An Implant-Supported Bridge Can Provide a Secure and Realistic Restoration
Dental bridges are a trusted restorative treatment that can replace one or more missing teeth in a row. While our traditional bridges offer benefits for the right patients, our implant-supported bridges provide even greater stability and enhanced oral function. Plus, they have important benefits for your overall oral health. At Northampton Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Teddi Olszewski performs complete implant treatment, from surgery to placement of your permanent bridge. Plus, at our Northampton, MA, practice, we use incredibly realistic restorative materials. Your new restoration should blend naturally with your smile, ensuring both a stunning appearance and completely comfortable fit.
Is an Implant-Supported Bridge Right for You?
If you are missing two or more teeth in a row, but the rest of your teeth are healthy, an implant-supported bridge may be an excellent option. Because the implants will be placed in your jawbone, the nearby tissue should be dense and strong. Jawbone recession begins quickly after tooth loss. Unfortunately, this process may affect your candidacy for implants. However, Dr. Olszewski can sometimes position the posts in a way that will maximize the healthy tissue. In other cases, a bone graft can replace the lost tissue and provide enough support for the implant posts.
The Treatment Process
Usually, implant-supported bridges are secured by two small titanium posts. Once you are completely comfortable using a combination of local anesthesia and sedation, if needed, Dr. Olszewski will make small incisions in your gums and place the implants. She will work off of a personalized surgical plan using x-rays and scans of your jaw.
An implant-supported bridge will replace both your missing teeth and dental roots, providing increased stability and complete oral function.
It will take about four to six months for your jaw to heal, during which time you will wear a temporary restoration. At the end of this time, Dr. Olszewski will perform a second very minor procedure to expose the tops of the implants and attach your bridge. Our lab will create the restoration using impressions of your mouth. Plus, Dr. Olszewski will carefully check the fit and make any needed adjustments to ensure your comfort and a healthy bite.
The Benefits of Implant-Supported Bridges
At Northampton Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we provide both traditional and implant-supported bridges. For most patients, we recommend implant-supported restorations due to several important benefits:
- Preserve Health of Nearby Teeth: An implant-supported bridge stands alone without affecting your nearby teeth. In contrast, to place a traditional bridge, your dentist will need to reshape your adjacent teeth in order to accommodate dental crowns.
- Enhanced Stability: An implant-supported bridge will replace both your teeth and the missing dental roots. This provides increased stability and complete oral function.
- Improved Oral Health: By replacing your dental roots, implants will send out the same type of regenerative signals. In this way, they can prevent jawbone recession and further tooth loss.
Choose Unparalleled Stability
If you are considering an implant-supported bridge, Dr. Olszewski can make a treatment recommendation and help to restore your confidence in your smile. Contact our office online to book your appointment or call us at (413) 584-2902.
