Victoria implant supported bridge, carried on two posts
An implant supported bridge carries several missing teeth in a row on posts at each end. It uses fewer implants than one per tooth and, unlike a conventional bridge, it does not involve cutting down the natural teeth beside the gap.
Victoria implant supported bridge means two treatments
A conventional bridge is cemented onto the natural teeth either side of a gap, which means those teeth are filed down to take crowns. If they are already heavily filled that can be a reasonable use of them. If they are healthy, it is a real cost that rarely gets mentioned.
An implant supported bridge is anchored to posts instead, so the natural teeth are not touched at all. It also loads the bone under the span, which a conventional bridge does not. The comparison is set out plainly on Implants Vs Bridge.
Where only one tooth is missing, a bridge is not usually the answer at all; a Single Tooth Implant is simpler. Where several separated gaps exist, Multiple Tooth Implants covers how those are planned.
Span case
How it works
Implant supported bridge, designed and fitted in four stages
Measure the span
How long the gap is and where bone can carry an anchor. A longer span may need a third post in the middle.
Place the anchors
Posts go in at the planned positions in one appointment, with a temporary bridge over them where the bone allows.
Integration
Several months for the bone to fuse to each post. Longer spans are given more margin before loading.
Fit the bridge
The final bridge is made as one piece, tried in, adjusted so the load is even, then fixed in place.
Cleaning
Under an implant supported bridge is where problems begin
An implant supported bridge has teeth suspended between the anchors, unlike a Single Tooth Implant, and the gap beneath them collects plaque that a toothbrush cannot reach. Cleaning under the span with floss threaders, interdental brushes or a water flosser is not optional; it is the single habit that decides how long the result lasts. We show you the technique at fitting.
That maintenance routine is the same one covered on Caring For Implants, and the reasons it matters so much are on Implant Risks. Gum inflammation around a post is the most common reason an otherwise sound bridge runs into trouble.
One pieceMade as
Under the spanCleaning
UntouchedNeighbours
Related treatments
Related Victoria implant bridge treatments
Smaller than a full arch, larger than a single tooth, and compared with the alternatives.
Victoria implant supported bridge questions, answered
Post counts, span length, cleaning and how it compares with a conventional bridge.
Commonly two, one at each end, carrying three teeth. Longer spans or heavy bites may need a third in the middle. The number comes from the length of the gap and the bone available, not from the number of teeth being replaced.
If the teeth either side already need crowns, a conventional bridge can make good use of them. If they are healthy, it means filing down sound tooth structure that never grows back, and the bone under the gap continues to shrink. Those are the two costs to weigh.
Yes, because of the suspended teeth in the middle. Separate implants with individual crowns can be flossed normally. A bridge needs threaders or a water flosser underneath. That is a genuine trade and worth knowing before choosing between them.
It is uncommon, but because the bridge is one piece it usually has to come off to deal with it. That is one reason screw retention is preferred for spans. Depending on which post and how long the span is, the bridge may be reusable once the site has been treated.
No. A bridge spans a continuous gap. Missing teeth on opposite sides are separate cases, planned together but restored separately. If most of the arch is involved, full arch protocols become the better answer.
Victoria patients
What Victoria implant bridge patients say
★★★★★4.9· 118 reviews on Google
★★★★★
Two posts, three teeth. The alternative meant grinding down two perfectly good teeth, which I did not want.
J. Whitfield
Three unit bridge, Victoria
★★★★★
Three teeth on two posts. Chewing on that side again after years of avoiding it.
L. Fitzgerald
Lower left span, Langford
★★★★★
Longer span so they added a middle post. Explained why rather than just quoting more.
V. Chevalier
Four unit bridge, Colwood
★★★★
Old conventional bridge had failed and taken a tooth with it. This time nothing healthy was touched.
W. Nakagawa
Replaced old bridge, Saanich
From the blog
Victoria implant guides: bridge cost, span design and healing
Have the span measured for an implant bridge in Victoria
The length of the gap and the bone at each end decide how many posts a bridge needs. A consultation and scan answer both, and you will see whether separate implants or a span makes better sense for your case.
