Implant Supported Bridges
Rockwall & Paris, Texas
The most effective, natural feeling, looking and functioning solution to a missing tooth or teeth is a dental implant. Patients missing several teeth in a row or an entire dental arch may be good candidates for an implant supported bridge, a durable option to replace missing teeth that will restore your biting and chewing power to nearly the same as your natural teeth. Implant supported bridges are designed to look and feel natural and can bring a tremendous increase in self-confidence by restoring you back to a full smile. If you are missing teeth and are tired of having to struggle to chew or speak, feel self-conscious about your smile, or are frustrated by being limited in what you can eat, implant supported bridges may be right for you.
At Northeast Texas Periodontal Specialists, we offer a range of implant-based solutions for missing teeth, including implant-supported bridges. To schedule an appointment for a consultation for implant supported bridges, contact our Rockwall office today at (972) 771-8640 or our Paris office at (903) 785-4832.
Implant Supported Bridges
Consultation & Process
Before implant supported bridges can be placed, an initial examination will be necessary to determine if they are viable treatment option for you. During this evaluation, we will review your medical and dental history, perform a thorough examination, and take 3D images using a dental CT (Cone Beam CT) scanner, which produces high-quality 3-D images that will allow us to determine whether you have enough jawbone to adequately support an implant, and if so, plan for the optimal placement of your implant supported bridge. We will also use these images with a special software to create a surgical guide to ensure that your implant supported bridge is precisely inserted into the pre-planned position.
Provided you are viable candidate, impressions of your teeth will be made and a follow-up appointment will be scheduled. Before we begin the implant supported bridge procedure, we will administer a local anesthetic to ensure you do not feel any discomfort. We also offer several different dental sedation options, including oral and IV sedation to ensure you are calm and comfortable throughout the procedure.
Once you are numbed and comfortable, the procedure will begin by making an incision in your gums. Next, we will use a piezoelectric ultrasonic surgical instrument to create the site where your implant will be placed. Unlike conventional instruments, Piezosurgery uses ultrasonic vibrations to precisely cut bone without affecting the nerves, blood vessels, skin, or gum. This approach allows us to be more minimally invasive and leading to less postoperative discomfort.
Once the site has been prepared and the implants placed, we will sometimes add growth proteins to the bone, if bone grafting is necessary, to facilitate the healing process and then position your temporary restoration, which will be worn while you undergo the healing process. Over the next few months, the titanium implant placed in your jawbone will fuse with the jawbone. This process is referred to as “osseointegration”. Once this process is complete, you will return to our office to monitor the postoperative healing and when cleared to do so you will be cleared for your permanent restoration, the implant supported bridge replacing your missing teeth. After placement of the bridge, we will also check it to ensure that your bite looks and feels comfortable and aligns with the adjacent teeth, then your implant supported bridge will be complete!
Implant Supported Bridges
Benefits of Treatment
One of the biggest benefits of getting implant supported bridges is the improved aesthetic appearance of your smile, but as important, if not more, is the preservation of your oral and systemic health. When teeth are missing and left untreated for too long, the jawbone will begin to deteriorate, decreasing the support of your lips and cheeks causing you to appear older than you are. Other benefits you will enjoy following your implant supported bridge procedure include:
- Improves your ability to chew foods, which results in better digestion
- Easier to clean and requires less maintenance
- Significantly more comfortable
- Decreases likelihood of gum infection and mouth sores
- Improves your ability to talk and will not move around or fall out like dentures
- Permanent solution, provided you follow good oral hygiene habits
Implant Supported Bridges
costs associated
The cost of getting implant supported bridges will largely depend on whether any additional procedures are being performed, how many implant supported bridges you are having placed, what type of dental sedation is used, the material of your implant supported bridge, and your dental insurance plan. It is also important to factor in the cost of the initial visit and any follow up appointments that may be necessary.
For patients who are covered under a dental insurance plan, although we are not in-network, we will gladly help prepare and file your claim to ensure you receive your maximum reimbursement. Payment is due in full on the day of treatment. We accept cash, check, Visa, Discover, Mastercard, and American Express. If you are concerned about the cost of receiving treatment, please know that we offer our patients Compassionate Finance, which offers a variety of payment solutions with fixed interest rates and manageable monthly payments and CareCredit®, which offers 24-monty payment plans with zero interest, as well as low-interest financing for 24-60 months.