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Is a 6-Tooth Dental Bridge with a Mix of Implants and Natural Teeth Okay?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

My left center front tooth is missing. I have dental implants for three teeth behind the missing one and two natural teeth with crowns. My dentist recommends a six-tooth bridge to replace the missing front tooth. I’m unsure whether this is the best approach, especially for keeping my teeth and gums clean. – Thanks. Garrett from IN

 

Garrett,

We cannot evaluate your dentist’s treatment plan for a front-tooth dental bridge without an exam and X-rays, but we can provide some insight.

It’s understandable to have concerns about the best approach for replacing a missing front tooth, especially when considering options like bridges and dental implants. Your dentist’s recommendation highlights some important distinctions between how natural teeth and implants function and potential complications associated with certain restorative choices.

Can You Combine Natural Teeth and Implants in a Bridge?

A dentist can combine natural teeth and implants in a bridge. However, how teeth and implants integrate with the jawbone affects how a dental bridge may affect your teeth when combined with dental implants. Natural teeth are anchored by ligaments, allowing for slight movement. Dental implants are designed to fuse directly with the bone, resulting in a rigid structure. This fundamental difference causes dental professionals to question connecting natural teeth and implants with a rigid dental bridge.

While some research supports constructing a dental bridge with natural teeth and implants, there are opposing opinions. Even those who agree with your dentist’s recommendation admit that meticulous planning and execution are essential to avoid damaging the remaining natural teeth.

Several factors to consider when contemplating a dental bridge that connects multiple teeth, especially if it involves a mix of natural teeth and implants, include the following:

  • Risk of Complete Redo: If a bridge connects several teeth and an issue arises with any single tooth under that bridge, your dentist may need to replace the entire bridge. Keeping teeth as individual units, where possible, can mitigate this risk.
  • Oral Hygiene Challenges: Cleaning between teeth that are part of a bridge can be more complex. A floss threader is recommended, although it is time-consuming and less convenient than traditional flossing.
A dental implant with the crown, abutment, and screw labled

Your jawbone supports a dental implant, so it will not stress neighboring teeth.

It is reasonable to explore why your dentist has not recommended a dental implant for your missing  front tooth instead of a bridge. This approach is often considered straightforward, less complicated, and easier to maintain for oral hygiene. Additionally, a removable partial denture, such as a flipper partial, could be a less expensive (but less aesthetic) solution.

You can ask your dentist for his or her opinion about a dental implant for your front tooth and get a second opinion from an implant and cosmetic dentist.

The Monroe, Louisiana, dentists at Bayou Dental Group sponsor this post. Please read how Dr. Finley and his team strive to offer some of the best dental care in Monroe.

Do I Need a New Bridge If an Anchor Tooth in It Cracked?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

I had my dental cleaning and exam last week. It was time for an X-ray, so when my dentist came into the room for the report, she said that I had a cracked anchor tooth beneath my upper left dental bridge. I don’t feel pain, and the bridge feels fine. However, my dentist wants me to get a new bridge. I don’t have money for a new bridge. How long can I delay it? Thanks. Kamille

 

Kamille,

Damage to a tooth part of a dental bridge often requires replacing the bridge.

Do You Need a New Bridge If a Tooth in It Breaks?

A dental bridge hovered over prepared teeth and the space of a missing tooth

Dental bridge

If a tooth is cracked and is an anchor (abutment) for a dental bridge, your dentist will remove it and provide a new bridge. The new bridge would replace the originally missing tooth and the recently cracked tooth.

However, we have some concerns:

A cracked tooth without symptoms. If you have a cracked tooth, you will likely feel symptoms, such as sharp pain when biting anything hard or with prolonged chewing.

A cracked tooth covered by a dental crown. It is unusual for a tooth to crack that is protected by a dental crown. The purpose of a dental crown is to protect a worn, damaged, or broken tooth.

We recommend getting a second opinion from an experienced dentist. Avoid telling the second-opinion dentist about your dentist’s diagnosis and recommendation for a new dental bridge. Give as little information as possible without mentioning a cracked tooth. Explain that you want the dentist’s opinion about your upper left teeth and whether they look okay.

How Can You Benefit from a Dental Implant vs. a Bridge?

A dental implant’s advantage over a bridge is that it replaces a missing tooth without the support of adjacent teeth. If a tooth next to an implant cracks, it will not affect the implant. In contrast, if a tooth is part of a dental bridge, you will need a new bridge and may need tooth extraction.

If one of your dental bridge teeth is damaged, consider replacing it with a dental implant to minimize the number of times you need a new dental bridge due to tooth trauma, damage, or decay.

David Finley, DDS, a Monroe, Louisiana, accredited cosmetic dentist and Academy of General Dentistry Fellow, sponsors this post. Read about what Dr. Finley and his team do to provide some of the best dental care in Monroe.

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