Implant-supported bridges.

A new patient came into the office the other day with a bridge problem.  He’d had his four upper incisors knocked out in an auto accident many years ago.  The fixed (as opposed to removable) bridge replacing those missing teeth was attached to two teeth on either side. And now, the bridge and those four teeth are all moving. The teeth in the front of the mouth look like they’re in a straight line, but are actually on a slightly-curved arc.  This creates a lever-arm, which actually rocks the four anchor teeth of the bridge.  This rocking motion would eventually extract them. 

An implant is effectively a post placed in the bone where a tooth is missing.  That procedure sounds horrific, but there is absolutely no discomfort.  The “post hole” is barely larger than the implant.  During the healing process, the bone fuses to the implant, leaving it more solid and immobile than a natural tooth. 

With today’s technology, when those four upper front teeth are knocked out- a common occurrence with hockey players- the bridge to replace them would be supported by implants.  The shorter bridge span doesn’t have that arc-induced leverage situation going on, so its longevity is dramatically increased.

Ah, technology.  I love the treatment options we have at our disposal today.