How to Tell if Your Bridge Could Use Dental Implants

The biggest reason why dental bridges have remained popular over the centuries is because they’re highly effective at restoring smiles’ health and appearance after tooth loss. Modern bridges are especially effective thanks to their highly lifelike materials (such as dental porcelain) and precise construction. However, many patients in Oxnard enjoy even more lifelike dental bridges because they’re supported on one or more dental implants. Made to mimic your lost teeth roots, dental implants can be used to improve the comfort and stability of your dental bridge to make it the closest replica of your healthy, natural teeth.

If you want to avoid prepping other teeth
A dental bridge consists of a lifelike replacement tooth, or pontic, and is supported by dental crowns that your dentist bonds to nearby abutment teeth. While effective, placing a conventional bridge requires sculpting the structures of these nearby teeth so they can accommodate the bridge’s crowns. Because a dental implant mimics a natural tooth root, it can support the replacement tooth without the need for any preparations to your remaining, healthy teeth.

If your bridge doesn’t fit like it used to
After years of biting and chewing, a conventional dental bridge can lose its original, comfortable grip. This is due to many factors, such as excessive wear on the abutment teeth and the gradual loss of jawbone mass and density. Dental implants eliminate both of these concerns while also providing a highly stable, implanted anchor for your replacement tooth. If your bridge has begun to lose its grip, then it may be time to consider stabilizing it with dental implants.

If your bridge’s abutment teeth are compromised
If the abutment teeth supporting your bridge have become compromised, then your dentist may be able to save them by restoring their structures. However, the restoration will be more likely to succeed if you upgrade your prosthesis to an implant-supported one, allowing you to enjoy a full smile without having to support your bridge on the restored teeth.

Learn about adding dental implants to your bridge
If your dental bridge isn’t already supported on dental implants, then ask us about the benefits of adding them. For more information, schedule a consultation by calling Oxnard Dentistry in Oxnard, CA, today at (805) 604-9999. We also proudly serve patients from in and around Camarillo, Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Moore Park, and all surrounding communities.