Losing several or all teeth in a single arch does so much more than just impacting your smile. When you suffer tooth loss, your cheeks and lips lose support, which leads to a sunken appearance. Your skin sags, which can also cause wrinkles to form. All of this prematurely ages you. Aesthetic issues are not the only things that happen following the loss of your teeth.
How you eat and speak are also greatly affected, as are your nutrition and jawbone health. At Revive Dental and Implant Center, Dr. Boustany can replace an arch of missing teeth with a non-removable complete fixed bridge.
What is a Complete Fixed Bridge?
Complete dentures have been the solution for replacing all teeth in a single arch for centuries. Today, a complete fixed bridge provides you with an additional option. Our modern approach to your treatment uses dental implants. Your arch of new teeth is supported by between 6 and 8 titanium posts. Dr. Boustany will surgically implant these posts into the jawbone, giving you back a secure new smile that is naturally functioning.
What Can I Expect?
Dr. Boustany and our team will follow a specific treatment plan, which we make during your initial consultation, to ensure the best possible placement. To receive a complete fixed bridge, you will need to have oral surgery. We carefully make incisions in your gum tissue near where the implant posts will be placed. Next, a special drill is used to make holes in the bone.
After the posts are inserted into the holes, the gums are closed with sutures. You receive temporary teeth, either fixed or removable, to be used during your recovery.
Your exact healing time will vary based on your specific situation. On average, it can take up to several months. Osseointegration occurs during your recovery. This is a natural process during which the bone attaches, or fuses, to the titanium posts. Following your recovery, your permanent new teeth are created, and we attach them to the posts with small screws.
What Benefits Does a Complete Fixed Bridge Provide?
One of the most noticeable benefits of a complete fixed bridge is that the restoration perfectly restores your smile. The ceramic crowns look exactly like real teeth. Your new teeth are perfectly comfortable, and caring for them is no different from caring for your natural teeth. There is no telling the difference between real teeth and artificial teeth. You can once again enjoy your favorite foods. Your speech is also restored, allowing confident social and professional interaction.
Another key benefit for oral health is that the posts stimulate the jawbone, just like real tooth roots. This helps to stop bone loss and keep the jaw strong.
Do I Have Other Options?
A complete fixed bridge can be a great option for many patients missing a full arch of teeth. However, it is not right for everyone. You do have other options.
If you still want dental implants, but your jawbone is too weak to support the number of posts required for a completed fixed bridge, you may be a candidate for overdentures or the All-on 4® Treatment Concept.
Alternatively, you can choose to replace a full arch of missing teeth with a traditional denture. Dr. Boustany can help you determine the best solution to meet your specific needs.