Several Missing Teeth

If you are missing several teeth, we can either replace each one with an individual implant as in single tooth replacement, or fabricate an implant-supported bridge to replace them in cases where it is not practical to place an individual implant for each missing tooth.

 
 
 
 

Advantages of implant-supported bridges over fixed bridges or removable partial dentures

  • function and look like natural teeth
  • replace missing teeth without attaching to or damaging neighboring natural teeth.
  • Maintain and preserve bone. Dental implants attach to and stimulate your jawbone which helps to keep it healthy and prevent resorption.
 
 

Bone is maintained by the presence of natural teeth or implants (a). Bone loss occurs with the loss of teeth (b).

Conventional dentures may contribute to the loss of bone in the area where teeth are missing. As the image above shows, (a) the presence of natural teeth preserves the jawbone. When a tooth is missing, as in illustration (b), the bone may erode and weaken until it becomes necessary for a bone graft to be placed in order to facilitate dental implant placement. When a missing tooth is replaced by a dental implant, the fusion, or osseointegration, of the implant and bone provides stability, just as the natural tooth did.