Implant-Supported Bridges: Benefits, Costs and How They Work

With advancements in dental technology, several solutions have emerged for individuals who have lost multiple teeth and need a permanent replacement. Implant-supported bridges have emerged as a reliable, natural-looking solution. This approach combines the benefits of both traditional bridges and implants, offering an affordable, durable and aesthetically pleasing replacement that meets the growing demand for high-quality dental restorations.

What Is an Implant-Supported Bridge?

An implant-supported bridge is considered an improvement over the traditional bridge, offering better support and preserving the adjacent teeth. In this tooth restoration method, the replacement bridge is supported by implants instead of relying on adjacent teeth for support. This provides more stability for the bridge and prevents damage to the neighboring teeth. Additionally, a few implants can support a large number of artificial teeth, making it an efficient and durable solution for restoring multiple missing teeth at once.

How Does an Implant Supported Bridge Work?

Implant supported bridge restores aesthetic and functional abilities of the lost teeth. While keeping on the natural appearance. 

In this technique, an implant is surgically inserted into the jawbone, and the bridge is then anchored to this artificial root.

This bridge, composed of more than one crown, allows to multiple spaces to be covered, restoring multiple teeth loss at once forming a full arch implant supported bridge

Advantages of Implant Supported Bridges

• Implant supported bridges restore, with great stability, the functional abilities: biting, chewing and speaking abilities, of the lost teeth.

• Confidence and self-esteem are often restored with a beautiful smile, which can improve a patient's social life and overall well being.

• This would help in a significant improvement of the overall quality of life of the patient.

• Despite being more expensive than traditional tooth bridges, implant supported bridges combine the advantages of both implants and bridges: implant supported bridges gain the power of implant fixation. However in contrast to traditional implants in which the artificial root is bound to a single crown, in implant supported bridges, a bridge composed of more than one crown is anchored to the implant allowing to replace more than one tooth by a single implant in a single surgery.

Ideal Candidate for Implant Supported Bridges:

• Patients with more than one tooth loss in which the teeth that are lost are adjacent to each other rather than separated in positions.

• Or, Patients who have a single missing tooth with weak neighboring teeth that cannot support a bridge.

• Patients who have bone density allow for implant insertion to be secured.

• Patients who do not have gum disease that could hinder the post-surgery healing process.

Types of Implant Supported Bridge 

Implant supported bridges are classified according to several factors:

According to fixation

• Fixed implant-supported bridges: The bridge is permanently fixed to the implant. This type almost fits people with multiple teeth loss, and who are looking for a fixed permanent solution. However, this type requires a high degree of maintenance in terms of hygiene.

• Removable implant-supported bridges: In this type, despite being supported by an implant, the bridges can be put and removed on the patient's own. It fits patients who prefer the ability to remove their bridge for cleaning. However, these changeable positions may result in stability issues over a long period of time.

According to the material used

Porcelain, acrylic, zirconia, and a mixture of acrylic with a metal framework, are different types of materials can be used in the synthesis of dental bridges

The patient can participate in deciding which material is to use based on their price and features:

• Porcelain-based bridges: high quality resists staining and keeps natural appearance, perfectly fits patients who asked for aesthetics and stability, and high durability.

• Acrylic bridges: these are lightweight and cost-effective. often used in combination with metal framework.

• Periodic check-up would be important in this type as acrylic may wear quickly.

• Acrylic with metal framework bridges: these are usually used in full arch implant supported bridges. They are lightweight, strong and affordable options. However acrylic is not as high quality as porcelain or zirconia.

• Zirconia bridges: These are characterized by having the most natural appearance, highest strength and being the most expensive among all types. It is highly durable with natural appearance and high resistance to staining and chipping.

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Uses of Implant Supported Bridges for Teeth Restoration:

When should I choose implant-supported bridges over other dental replacement alternatives?

Single tooth replacement single implant vs. traditional bridge: Implant-supported artificial teeth (single tooth implant) are superior to traditional bridges for the replacement of a single missing tooth because the implant provides better stability and protects the adjacent teeth from being filed down. However, they are more expensive and may not be suitable for patients who cannot tolerate surgery.

Multiple Adjacent Teeth Loss: The available treatment options for this case are single tooth implants and implant-supported bridges.

In the single tooth implant method, each missing tooth is replaced by an individual crown fixed to a separate implant. In contrast, in implant-supported bridges, fewer implants are used to support multiple crowns (a bridge), which results in lower costs, fewer incisions, less pain, and shorter recovery times.

Implant-supported bridges are considered an excellent solution for patients with multiple adjacent teeth loss. However, they provide less strength compared to the single implant method, as the load is distributed across fewer implants. Additionally, implant-supported bridges are not suitable for cases of multiple non-adjacent teeth loss.

Full arch implant supported bridges: This is the most stable, permanent solution for patients who have lost most or all of their teeth in the upper or lower jaw.

 In this type 4 to 6 implants are inserted in the jaw bone to support a full arch of bridges that replace all teeth. This type, and according to number of implants used, this solution is commonly referred to as The all-on-4 implant or all-on-6 implant

Read about: cosmetic dentistry before and after

Implant Supported Bridge Procedure: 

Step by step procedure:

• First, oral examination, the dentist conducts an extensive oral examination to assess the patient’s oral health and plan the procedure. The type and number of implants are determined by a variety of factors, including the patient’s gum and oral health, age, preferences, the number and location of missing teeth, and, finally the patient’s budget

• Second, implant placement: After determining the number of implants the doctor starts the surgery under local anesthesia, by making an incision in the gum tissue and placing the implant into the jawbone, afterward the doctor will suture the gum.

• Third step, the healing stage: patients must wait until the gum tissue heals and the implants fuse with the jawbone (osseointegration). This typically takes about 3 to 6 months depending on several factors, such as the patient's health and number of implants used. 

• Patients must adhere to follow-up visits to monitor the healing process. 

• Once the healing is complete, the fourth step begins.

• Fourth step, bridge placement: the bridge is prepared according to individual's mold taken previously, sometimes before placing the bridge a small connector called abutment is placed to act as a base for the bridge, which is then fixed onto it.

• Final step, aftercare and regular follow-up 

Implant supported bridges recovery and aftercare tips

• Management of pain and side effects: after the insertion of the implant, patients may suffer a slight swelling and mild to moderate pain that can be managed by using over-the-counter analgesic. In case these side effects persist or increase with time, return to the doctor’s clinic.

• Oral hygiene maintenance: it is an important caring step as it protects from wound infection and helps promote the healing process. However, asking doctors about the best products and the best cleaning method is essential.

• Avoid smoking: smoking slows down the healing process, decreases bone density, and harms the bone structure around the teeth. 

• Eating tips: regarding food, patients must keep away from irritants and solid food that may harm gums tissue and increase the intake of protein-rich foods to aid in the healing process. Also, food containing minerals aid in osseointegration phase (the phase where the implant fuses with the jawbone)