Dental implants are a great way to restore missing teeth. A surgical procedure is used to place a titanium post into the jawbone. Once the post integrates, it can provide stability that is just as good as a natural tooth. However, it may not be practical or affordable to use a dental implant for every single tooth.

You can use dental implants as a support for dental bridges, which will reduce how many implants you need for full or partial mouth reconstruction. Here are some questions you may have about doing this procedure.

How Does A Bridge Connect To A Dental Implant?

You may be surprised at how easily a dental bridge and implant work together when restoring missing teeth. When getting a single dental implant installed in your mouth, a crown is placed on the titanium post that looks and feels like a real tooth. When using the implant as a bridge, that single crown is replaced with a crown that anchors half of the bridge in place.

The opposite end of the dental bridge can be attached to either a real tooth or a dental implant in a similar way. The implant gives you stability the bridge needs in order to work, which may not have been possible if you are missing a necessary tooth. Since both procedures require a crown, it makes sense that the two work together so well.

In some situations, you may be able to use an implant for a cantilever bridge. This is a type of bridge that only attached to a single tooth, such as when you are missing your two rear molars.

Can An Implant Supported Bridge Fail?

It is possible for an implant supported bridge to fail, but in most situations it is due to the same conditions that can cause a regular tooth to fail. This includes an infection of the implant that causes the titanium root to become loose. The bridge itself can also become damaged by putting too much pressure on it. After all, a dental bridge does not have the same strength as a dental implant, no matter how it is supported.

However, it is possible that the titanium post does not integrate with the jawbone, causing the body to reject the implant. You will need to consult with your dentist, such as at Advanced Dentistry of St. Charles, about what your options are for fixing the failed implant and restoring the dental bridge.