Implant-Retained Bridges in Merrimack

An implant-retained bridge at Something To Smile About offers a number of advantages over traditional dental bridges. These benefits include:

• A more secure fit: Implants are placed directly into the jawbone, providing a more stable foundation for your bridge.
• A longer lifespan: With proper care, an implant-retained bridge can last a lifetime. Traditional bridges may need to be replaced every five to seven years.
• Improved oral health: Implant-retained bridges do not rely on adjacent teeth for support. This helps to preserve healthy tooth structure.
• A beautiful smile: An implant-retained bridge from Dr. Boulard looks and feels like your natural teeth.

Ideal candidates for an implant-retained bridge are those who are missing several teeth. They are also a good option for patients who deal with jaw clenching and teeth grinding. You must have pristine gum health before receiving an implant. If not, bone augmentation or graft may need to be performed before the implant procedure can begin. Dr. Boulard will assess your overall oral health and determine whether implant bridges are a good choice for you.

There are several steps in the process of receiving an implant-retained bridge. The first step ensures that the implant is surgically placed into your jaw. The tissue around the gums will then need a number of months to recover, which also allows time for the implant to integrate. Dr. Boulard will confirm the successful integration of the implant with digital x-rays.

Dr. Boulard will take another set of digital impressions for your bridge to be made. A temporary restoration will also be made until the final bridge is ready. Once your custom bridge is delivered and ready to be anchored, Dr. Boulard will have you return for dental implant placement. He will adjust your implant-retained bridge as needed for proper fit and comfort.

Throughout each step of the process, your implant will need to be properly cleaned every day. Dr. Boulard might also suggest using special tools that allow for more thorough cleaning between the bridge and the gum. You should also keep attending twice-yearly cleanings to check the implant as needed and to optimize your dental health.

Does getting an implant-retained bridge hurt?

Most patients don’t experience any more discomfort than they would have during any other routine dental procedure. Dr. Boulard uses a local anesthetic to numb the treatment area paired with nitrous oxide sedation (if the patient wants it) to keep you comfortable during the entire implant procedure. After you’re done, you may experience some soreness and discomfort as your mouth heals, but it’s typically not anything that can’t be soothed with over-the-counter pain relievers and ice packs.

I don’t have the best gum health — can I still get an implant-retained bridge?

While good gum health is a typical requirement for an implant-retained bridge, if the health of your gums isn’t great, you can get a gum or bone graft that will allow the implants to be placed.

How long does an implant-retained bridge last?

With proper care and good oral hygiene, an implant-retain bridge can typically last up to 15 years before needing to be replaced.

The implant-retained bridge is a promising, sturdy choice for the replacement of missing teeth. With state-of-the-art technologies, Dr. Boulard offers implant-retained bridges to revive your smile. To find out if implant-retained bridges are the right treatment for you, call Something To Smile About to schedule your appointment in Merrimack, NH.