Traditional dental bridges rely on your natural teeth to act as the abutments (or anchors) for the bridge. If you are having a traditional dental bridge placed, we will need to alter your natural teeth, so that a bridge can be placed over them in much the same way that a dental crown is placed over a tooth. During this process, we will shave off the outer layers of the supporting teeth. This way, the bridge can fit over the teeth, still look natural, and fit into your bite properly. Once your teeth have been prepared, we will be able to place a temporary dental bridge onto them, so that you can get used to the sensation of eating and speaking with your new appliance. Your second visit to our San Antonio office will happen once we have received the dental bridge from our lab. We will remove the temporary bridge and place the permanent one.
An implant-supported bridge (like the All-on-4® Treatment Concept) is similar to a traditional bridge, but it uses dental implants to support the bridge, rather than the surrounding natural teeth. Before having an implant-supported bridge placed, the dental implants will need to be surgically placed in your mouth. We make an incision in your gums above the implant site and prepare the bone below to receive the titanium implant. We will place the implant post into your jaw, suture the site closed, and allow your mouth several months to heal. Then you will come back to have the dental bridge placed.
