Treatment
Implant-Supported Bridges
Replace several missing teeth in a row with a bridge anchored on implants — fixed in place, with no clasps, no adhesives, and no drilling of healthy neighboring teeth.
- Fewer implants, more teethOne bridge on two implants can replace three or more adjacent teeth, which usually makes it more economical than placing an implant for every missing tooth.
- Spares your natural teethNo healthy neighboring teeth are drilled or crowned to support the restoration.
- Fixed, not removableThe bridge is secured to the implants. It does not come out at night and needs no adhesives.
- Bone stimulation at the implant sitesThe supporting implants transmit chewing force into the jaw, helping preserve bone where they are placed.
When several teeth in a row are missing, you do not necessarily need an implant for every gap. An implant-supported bridge anchors a span of replacement teeth on implants at each end, restoring the whole row with fewer implants.
A traditional bridge relies on the natural teeth beside the gap: they are ground down and crowned to carry the span. An implant-supported bridge stands entirely on its own — the implants carry the load, and your healthy enamel stays intact.
How it works
Consultation and imaging
CT imaging maps the bone across the whole span so the supporting implants can be positioned where the bone is strongest.
Implant placement
The supporting implants — typically one at each end of the span, with more for longer spans — are placed under local anesthetic, with sedation available.
Healing (osseointegration)
The implants bond to the bone before the bridge is attached, so they can carry chewing forces across the whole span.
Bridge fabrication and fitting
Impressions are taken and a custom bridge is made, then secured to the implants and adjusted so your bite feels even.
Who it's for
Implant-supported bridges suit patients missing two or more adjacent teeth who have adequate bone at the planned implant sites and healthy gums. Bone grafting can often prepare a site that has shrunk since the teeth were lost.
There are honest cases where a traditional bridge still makes sense — for example, when the neighboring teeth already need crowns of their own, or when surgery is not advisable. We will lay out both options with their trade-offs so you can decide with clear information.
Recovery
Recovery follows the same pattern as a single implant — a few days of swelling and tenderness, a soft-food phase, then normal routines — though placing more than one implant can mean somewhat more initial swelling.
The week-by-week expectations in our recovery and aftercare guide apply here as well.
Honest limitations
The core risks of implant surgery apply, plus a few specific to bridges:
- Shared foundations. The bridge depends on every supporting implant. If one fails — through infection or failed osseointegration — the whole restoration is affected and may need rework.
- Hygiene under the span. Cleaning beneath the bridge takes deliberate technique (floss threaders or interdental brushes). Skipping it raises the risk of gum inflammation around the implants.
- Bone requirements at each site. Adequate bone is needed at every implant position; grafting adds time and cost when it is required.
- Smoking and grinding. Both increase the chance of implant failure and porcelain fracture, as with any implant restoration.
Talk through your options with an implant specialist
A consultation covers your exam, imaging, and a written treatment plan with clear pricing — so you can decide with complete information.