Implant Bridges Provide a More Stable Solution for Missing Teeth [Video Demo]

Have you ever had a dream in which all your teeth fell out? It’s a surprisingly common experience, often said to have various meanings. Regardless of its interpretation, most people find it terrifying. Unfortunately, as we age, the fear of losing teeth shifts from a frightening dream to a real-life concern. Our teeth age just as we do, and older teeth are more prone to infection and decay. While tooth loss is more common among older people, it can happen at any age! Improper care, genetic dispositions, and even accidents can lead to losing one or more teeth. Fortunately, there are solutions if you are missing several teeth in one part of your mouth. At the Mini Dental Implant Center of America (MDICA) in Syracuse, Dr. Bradford offers implant bridges as an ideal option for replacing multiple missing teeth.

Potential Causes of Tooth Loss

Tooth loss can occur for many reasons, so it’s important to address any oral health issues as soon as possible. Common causes of tooth loss include:

• Tooth decay: Tooth decay occurs when bacteria produce acids that erode enamel, forming cavities. If untreated, the decay will significantly compromise your tooth’s structure. Bacteria can also progress deeper into your tooth, infecting your dental pulp. This infection can damage the tooth so severely that extraction becomes necessary.
• Periodontal disease: This inflammatory bacterial infection is also known as gum disease. Without treatment, gum disease causes damage to your gums and bone, weakening the structures that support your teeth. If it progresses to more advanced stages, the effects may be irreversible, and your teeth may need to be extracted.
• Tooth trauma: Dental trauma to the mouth often leads to tooth loss. Impacts from car accidents, sports, or other significant collisions can damage or even knock out teeth, depending on the severity of the injury.

Traditional Bridges vs. Implant Bridges

To replace multiple missing teeth, dentists often use dental bridges.

A traditional dental bridge is a row of artificial teeth that fills in the gap where teeth are missing. It essentially connects your natural teeth like a real bridge would, providing a full and restored smile.

A traditional bridge is supported by crowns on both ends that fit over the healthy teeth on either side of the gap. Therefore, to place the bridge, we’ll need to reshape your healthy teeth to fit a dental crown.

Crown preparation involves filing down the enamel on all sides so the crowns fit snugly. These tooth-shaped caps keep your bridge in place, but may eventually weaken and damage your once-healthy teeth.

Fortunately, we offer implant bridges that fill gaps in your smile without affecting healthy teeth!

Implant bridges are a row of artificial teeth bonded together to form a single unit. Then, this unit secures to a row of dental implants that we place inside your jaw. At the MDICA in Syracuse, NY, we often use mini dental implants to support implant bridges.

These implants fit in minimal bone with a minimally invasive procedure, providing a reliable restoration with less hassle. The result is a strong and seamless restoration that completes your smile, feels natural, and allows you to eat confidently.

The Mini Implant Difference

While it is possible to use traditional dental implants to support a bridge, we often prefer to use mini implants.

Traditional implants are large and require ample jawbone space that most patients don’t have. Additionally, they have multiple parts that create seams where bacteria can gather, increasing your risk of infection down the line.

In contrast, mini dental implants are much smaller and have a unique one-piece design. Because they are just one piece, they greatly reduce the risk of infection.

To place them, Dr. Bradford creates a small pilot hole through the gums and into the jawbone. He’ll repeat this process for each implant and carefully screw the post in place. Because mini implants are “immediate loading implants,” they are stable as soon as they are secured in the bone. This allows Dr. Bradford to connect your temporary bridge immediately!

Then, in a few weeks, your implants will be ready. Dr. Bradford will cement the final dental bridge onto the mini implants to fill in the gap in your smile!

Book a Free Consultation To Discuss Implant Bridges Today!

While tooth loss can have many causes, we offer innovative solutions that can effectively restore your smile! Implant bridges offer a stable, natural-looking solution when you’re missing multiple teeth in a single area. Schedule a free implant consultation with Dr. Bradford today to see if mini dental implant bridges are the right choice for you!

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