 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Medical Forum / General / Dentistry / March 2005Can an implant be used as an anchor (abutment) for a bridge?
Last year I had teeth 18 & 22 (17 was extracted years ago) prepped to be used as anchors for a 4-tooth porcelain fixed bridge. The bridge was later attached to span teeth 18-22. Unfortunately the bridge came loose and a trip to my dentist revealed that tooth 22 was fractured and I was told he would have to basically start all over and replace the bridge with an appliance. Not an attractive option and not well received I might add. Anyway it recently occurred to me that perhaps the fractured tooth #22 could be replaced with an implant - thus allowing me to have the original bridge reattached. So my question is simply "Is this doable?" If so, what are the pitfalls, if any? Presumably I must see an oral surgeon for this. As always, thank you for your time. Michael T. Obviously if I am saying a 4-tooth bridge, I should have stated that it spanned 18-21 - NOT 18-22. Sorry about that. > Last year I had teeth 18 & 22 (17 was extracted years ago) prepped to be > used as anchors for a 4-tooth porcelain fixed bridge. The bridge was later > attached to span teeth 18-22. Unfortunately, the old bridge is a loss. To try to place an implant and retrofit some kind of abutment into the implant that would serve as support for the existing bridge...well it would be quite an experiment! To be honest with you, I don't think it would be wise to have an implant serve as the sole abutment on one end of a five unit bridge. You may need two implants placed to support a new bridge. Also, I'm not sure that a natural tooth abutment with its ability to move on biting and the implant on the other end of the bridge affixed to the underlying bone with no give is a great idea. Maybe have the part of the bridge that was on #18 sectioned from the old bridge and reseated permanently as a single crown. Then have a couple of implants placed to support a new bridge from 19-22. I'm sure others here will have other great ideas/options for you. Why did #22 break off to start with??? > Last year I had teeth 18 & 22 (17 was extracted years ago) prepped to be > used as anchors for a 4-tooth porcelain fixed bridge. The bridge was later [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Michael T. Breaking a tooth like this probably points to night-time clenching (what I like to refer to as isometric-grinding). Clench with great force and rock the jaw back and forth with the teeth clamped down really hard. Eventually the weakest point will let go. The forces we are talking about here are enormous and you can do this while sleeping for many hours every night. Usually, the patient does not even know they are doing this until the dentist points out all the other effects which are evident. I have seen bridges supported by an implant on one end and a tooth on the other end hold up well long term. However, literature tells us this is not the wisest way to restore function. There is too much difference in compressibility of what is supporting the bridge on each end. You would probably be better served with two implants supporting a new 3-unit bridge and cutting the crown off the back end of the old bridge and leaving it on the back tooth so that you do not have make a new crown there. Regardless of what plan of action you pursue, you need to protect your teeth while sleeping. www.nti-tss.com  Signature~+--~+--~+--~+--~+-- Stephen Mancuso, D.D.S. Troy, Michigan, USA .................................................... This posting is intended for informational or conversational purposes only. Always seek the opinion of a licensed dental professional before acting on the advice or opinion expressed here. Only a dentist who has examined you in person can diagnose your problems and make decisions which will affect your health. ...................... > Unfortunately, the old bridge is a loss. To try to place an implant and > retrofit some kind of abutment into the implant that would serve as [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] >> >> Michael T. I agree with the other dentists who recommend cutting the bridge leaving a crown for #18 and have two implants with a bridge. A bridge between a natural tooth and an implant is a bad idea. Dr. Bonilla >I agree with the other dentists who recommend cutting the bridge >leaving a crown for #18 and have two implants with a bridge. A bridge >between a natural tooth and an implant is a bad idea. >Dr. Bonilla True, its like mixing Haagen Das ice cream with Shop-Rite chocolate sauce in the same bowl. Joel >Why did #22 break off to start with??? Parafunction. -- W_B Take out the G'RBAGE wubbabubbazG@RBAGEyahoo.com >Last year I had teeth 18 & 22 (17 was extracted years ago) prepped to be >used as anchors for a 4-tooth porcelain fixed bridge. The bridge was later [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >over and replace the bridge with an appliance. Not an attractive option and >not well received I might add. Why not a post, depending on where it is fractured? Then one could recement after a Reverse-Post-Core Buildup procedure. >Anyway it recently occurred to me that perhaps the fractured tooth #22 could >be replaced with an implant - thus allowing me to have the original bridge >reattached. > >So my question is simply "Is this doable?" If so, what are the pitfalls, if >any? Presumably I must see an oral surgeon for this. Nope, an implant crown is different from a regular crown, plus a bridge cannot span a natural tooth and an implant anchor. Joel >As always, thank you for your time. > >Michael T. >Last year I had teeth 18 & 22 (17 was extracted years ago) prepped to be >used as anchors for a 4-tooth porcelain fixed bridge. The bridge was later [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >be replaced with an implant - thus allowing me to have the original bridge >reattached. Implant for 19 and 22 then place FPD (bridge) single crown on 18 >So my question is simply "Is this doable?" If so, what are the pitfalls, if >any? Presumably I must see an oral surgeon for this. You cannot attach an implant to a natural tooth. Natural teeth move. Implants do not. This dooms the bridge to failure. >As always, thank you for your time. > >Michael T. -- W_B Take out the G'RBAGE wubbabubbazG@RBAGEyahoo.com > So my question is simply "Is this doable?" If so, what are the pitfalls, if > any? Presumably I must see an oral surgeon for this. I would say that this is not doable. In fact, if the patient really wanted to try it, I'd refer him/her to the prosthodontist. I would also advise you to get a predetermination for your insurance (if any) to see if the dentist that evaluated claims like this agrees with me or not. If the evaluating dentist doesn't believe it will work, your company won't insure it. I aslo agree with the others in saying you need to protect the rest of your mouth with an NTI. This goes DOUBLY so if you decide to get an all implant bridge and single crown. www.nti-tss.com Cheers SP SignatureNot a real Addy, yet I want to thank all of you for taking the time to offer advice. It appears my two options are the following: 1) Ask my regular dentist to go forward with his approach - which is to replace the 4-tooth fixed bridge with an appliance. OR 2) Have an oral surgeon consider reattaching the bridge using two (as opposed to one) implants. Oh well. -- Michael > Last year I had teeth 18 & 21 (17 was extracted years ago) prepped to be > used as anchors for a 4-tooth porcelain fixed bridge. The bridge was later [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Michael T. |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.