Implant-Supported Bridge Specialist

Cosmetic dentistry can fully restore a tired-looking smile. Dr. Nicole Mermet is a Midtown, New York, NY area dentist, serving Bryant Park and Grand Central Station, who has extensive experience in cosmetic dentistry, and she is ready to help patients achieve the smile of their dreams. Metropolitan Dental Care is conveniently located at the border of zip codes 10017 and 10016.

What is an implant-supported bridge?  

An implant-supported bridge is similar to a regular dental bridge, but it is supported by implants and not by natural teeth. In most cases, when an implant-supported bridge is used, one implant is placed in the jawbone for each missing tooth on either end of the span. Once the implants have integrated into the bone, the crowns which replace the missing teeth are connected to each other to form one piece, which is fixed in place.  These are a wonderful option to dentures because they stay in the mouth all the time, including at night during sleep. These implant supported bridges do not move or shift during eating, nor do they create sore spots on the gums like dentures do sometimes.

When would an implant-supported bridge be used?  

An implant-supported bridge is used when more than one tooth is missing. It also may be used when your dentist is concerned that you might put too much pressure on individual implants that are not connected to each other. For example, clenching or grinding your teeth can put a lot of pressure on individual implants. This can increase the chances that they will loosen from the bone and fail. An implant-supported bridge reduces the pressure on the individual implants in the bone, and spreads it across the entire bridge.  If the implants will be placed next to natural teeth, the natural teeth and surrounding gums must be in good health. If you do not have enough bone to place and support the dental implants, the supporting bone can be built up using bone augmentation or grafting before the actual implant procedure begins.

How does an implant-supported bridge work?  

In some cases, your dentist may not want to put an implant in a certain place in your mouth. There may not be enough jawbone to support an implant, or the location may be too close to a nerve or sinus cavity (located above your upper teeth). In that case, your dentist can avoid the area by placing implants on both sides of the space. An implant-supported bridge will be placed on top. An implant-supported bridge also can be made similar to a traditional bridge, with a crown suspended between two implant-supported crowns.  The implant-supported bridge consists of titanium implants that are surgically placed in the bone. The abutment, which is a cylinder made of titanium, gold, or ceramic is screwed into the implant. The restoration is the part of the bridge that mimics the teeth. It is actually a series of crowns connected together to form a bridge. The bridge is made of a zirconia or metal