Dental Bridge on Implants

Reliable construction of 3 crowns supported by implants

We install dental bridges on implants made of metal-ceramics and zirconium dioxide for the loss of 3 or more teeth. Bridges are fabricated in our in-house dental laboratory using digital modeling techniques.

Bridge prosthetics on implants are performed at the Author's Prosthetics Dental Clinic in Odesa: 12 Tyraspolska Street.

What It Is and How Reliable the Construction Is

A dental bridge on implants is an orthopedic construction consisting of 3 or more crowns: at least 2 are supported by implants, while 1–2 additional units cover the missing teeth.

Bridge prosthetics on implants are made of metal-ceramics and zirconium dioxide (metal-free ceramics). They are attached to implants through abutments (connectors) after the implanted artificial roots have fused with the jawbone.

Implants ensure even distribution of chewing load across the jawbone, making the bridge structure reliably serve for many years.

Advantages of Implantation

Installing a bridge on implants allows you to:

Avoid grinding and depulping healthy teeth.
Restore sections of the dental arch where 3 or more teeth are missing.
Close terminal defects where a traditional dental bridge on natural teeth is not feasible and removable partial dentures are undesirable.
Reduce the number of supporting implants in cases where treatment costs need to be minimized or bone augmentation in the defect area should be avoided.

Costs of Bridge Prosthetics on Implants

The cost of installing a dental bridge on a turnkey basis depends on:

the number of supporting implants;
the number of crowns in the prosthesis;
the material of the new teeth (metal-ceramics, zirconium, E-max);
the implantation system (Osstem, Dentium, Astra Tech).

The cost of manufacturing a bridge on implants does not include bone grafting, removal of damaged teeth, or treatment of dental diseases.

The final treatment cost, considering these factors, will be calculated during the initial consultation after an examination and treatment plan formulation.

Full list of services for dental bridges on implants:

Dentist consultation
Implants
Metal-ceramic bridge for 3 teeth (excluding implant costs)
Zirconium bridge for 3 teeth (excluding implant costs)

Bridges on Implants for Restoring 2, 3, 4, 5, or More Teeth

If two consecutive teeth are missing, a bridge on implants is not installed. In this case, the defect is restored with 2 implants with independent crowns. A bridge structure is installed when more than 3 teeth are missing.

Bridge on Implants for 3 Teeth

A defect of 3 missing teeth is restored with a bridge structure on 2 implants with two supporting and one suspended crown.

Materials: Zirconium or metal-ceramic bridges are suitable for molar areas. In the smile zone, only zirconium or E-max ceramics are appropriate.

Bridge on Implants for 4 Teeth

For the absence of 4 front teeth, a zirconium bridge can be installed on 2 implants placed in the second incisor area.

If 4 teeth are missing in the molar section of the jaw, a bridge structure on 2 implants is not reliable enough. In this case, a prosthesis of 4 crowns on 3 titanium supports is preferable.

Materials: Molar area – zirconium dioxide or metal-ceramics; smile zone – zirconium dioxide (metal-free ceramics such as E-max are contraindicated).

Bridge on Implants for 5 or More Teeth

If 5 or more teeth are missing, a prosthesis is installed on a minimum of 3 supports. In this case, one suspended crown is placed between every two implants. In the smile zone, 2 suspended crowns between two implants are allowed.

How many implants are needed to support a bridge?

The number of supporting implants is calculated based on the defect's size, bone tissue condition, and prosthetic area (molar or front jaw).

The golden standard for bridge prosthetics is a construction where one suspended crown (a maximum of two in the anterior area) is placed between two supports.

For a 10-unit artificial tooth bridge across the jaw, 4–5 implants are needed. For a prosthetic structure of 12 crowns, 6–8 titanium supports are required. The upper jaw always needs more implants than the lower jaw.

Indications and Contraindications

Dental implantation with bridge installation is indicated for restoring defects in the dental arch of 3 or more teeth. An important requirement for implant installation is sufficient bone volume and no contraindications to implantation.

Relative Contraindications

Implantation is possible only after eliminating the negative factor or stabilizing the patient's condition.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Inflammatory and infectious diseases in an acute stage.
Bone tissue deficiency.
Poor oral hygiene, smoking.
Inflammatory periodontal diseases (periodontitis).
Diabetes mellitus.

Absolute Contraindications

In these cases, dental arch restoration is performed using traditional prosthetics methods.

Immunodeficiency.
Blood clotting disorders.
Neurological disorders.
Malignant tumors.

Types of Bridge Prosthetics on Implants

By Attachment Method

Screw-retained. The bridge is attached to the abutments with titanium screws. The crown holes for the screws are sealed with photopolymer material. This method allows for easy removal of the bridge for maintenance and cleaning of implant heads.

Cement-retained. Abutments shaped like tooth stumps are installed on the implants. The bridge structure is then fixed on them using dental cement. Cement retention is rarely used in implant-based prosthetics.

By Material

Metal-ceramics. A metal frame is coated with layers of ceramic mass. Metal-ceramic structures are durable and withstand high chewing loads. Downsides include the transparency of the metal frame, potential allergic reactions, and gum discoloration from metal oxidation. Suitable for molar area prosthetics.

Zirconium dioxide. Made from zirconium discs, a type of metal-free ceramics. They offer strength and excellent aesthetics, making them suitable for both molar and front jaw areas. They do not cause gum discoloration or allergic reactions and are indistinguishable from natural teeth in color and transparency. For enhanced aesthetics, they are installed on ceramic abutments.

Metal-free ceramics. This premium aesthetic material is mainly used for prosthetics in the smile zone. Metal-free ceramics are relatively fragile, so they are used for single restorations. In rare cases, bridges with no more than 3 crowns may be made, but only in the lower incisor area where chewing loads are minimal.

Lifespan of Bridges on Implants

With proper load calculation by the orthopedic dentist, artificial roots can last a lifetime. The lifespan of metal-ceramic structures is up to 10 years, while zirconium ones last 15–20 years.

Steps of Bridge Installation

At the Author's Prosthetics Dental Clinic “Kiadent,” you can get new teeth and a beautiful smile in just 2 visits.

1. Step. Consultation, diagnostics, planning
X-ray diagnostics are conducted to assess the bone volume in the implant area. A computer program models the parameters and positions of titanium supports in the jawbone. Some patients are referred for additional tests to rule out contraindications (allergic reactions, blood glucose levels, clotting factors, etc.).
The dentist determines whether bone grafting, tooth removal, or additional treatment is needed. The exact cost of implantation and bridge prosthetics can be calculated at this stage.
2. Step. Oral cavity preparation
The scope of work depends on the patient’s oral health. If necessary, cavities and inflammatory diseases are treated, and plaque and tartar are removed.
3. Step. Bone grafting, if needed
In cases of insufficient bone volume, osteoplasty (augmentation) is performed. If resorption is minor, implantation is done simultaneously with bone grafting or sinus lifting. For severe jawbone atrophy, a surgical osteoplasty procedure is done first. Implants are installed only after the bone block has successfully fused.
4. Step. Bridge prosthetics
After 4–6 months, when titanium roots have integrated with the jawbone, gum formers are installed, and impressions are taken for the prosthetic structure. The zirconium or metal-ceramic bridge is installed within 2 weeks.

Implantation vs. Traditional Bridge on Natural Teeth: Comparison Table

The main advantage of implant-supported bridge prosthetics is preserving healthy teeth (no grinding or depulping is needed).

Additionally, titanium roots prevent bone atrophy in the defect area.

Bridge on Natural Teeth	Bridge on Implants
What defect it restores
1–2 missing teeth; longer bridges are less reliable	3 or more missing teeth
Prosthetics time frame
2 weeks	3–6 months
Materials
Metal-ceramics / zirconium dioxide	Metal-ceramics / zirconium dioxide
Restoring terminal defects
No	Yes
Reliability
Medium (depends on the condition of supporting teeth)	High
Durability
Up to 10 years	Implants – lifelong; prosthesis – over 10 years
Contraindications
Minimal	More contraindications
Cost
Low	Several times higher

Learn more about bridge installation on prepared teeth.

Questions and Answers

Bridge or independent crowns on implants: which is better?
It depends on the situation. It is better when each missing unit is replaced by an implant with an individual crown, especially in the smile zone. However, this option is more expensive than a bridge and is not always clinically feasible.
Can a bridge be placed on both a tooth and an implant?
No, because an implant is rigidly fixed in the bone, while the roots of a natural tooth are mobile. The different degrees of fixation in the bridge's supports can lead to its breakage or the loss of the implant or tooth.