A dental bridge is designed to fill in the gap left behind by one to three adjacent missing teeth. It is fabricated from a single block of porcelain with two dental crowns fused together on either side of a pontic (artificial tooth). The number of pontics needed will depend on the number of teeth missing. Whereas a traditional bridge uses your remaining teeth to support the restoration, an implant-supported bridge uses dental implants and abutments to permanently replace missing teeth.
Before placing the restoration, you will undergo dental implant placement surgery where the doctor will insert small titanium posts into your jawbone. Once the posts have successfully fused with your jawbone, your doctor can attach your customized restoration. Compared to traditional dental bridges, an implant-supported bridge provides a longer-lasting approach to tooth loss without damaging neighboring teeth. It can also prevent jawbone degeneration, changes to your facial structure, and further tooth loss.