One of the most common ways to lose a tooth is due to advanced gum disease. But gum disease usually does a lot more than affect a single tooth. Without treatment, the infection will spread, moving along your gum line. The further the disease spreads, the more teeth that may be affected! In many cases, patients lose a few teeth in a single area due to the steady spread of bacteria. But this leaves you with large gaps in your smile, making everyday life a bit more difficult. To replace multiple missing teeth in a row, we recommend implant bridge solutions! At our office in Springfield, MO, we use mini dental implants to support dental bridges that fill the large gap in your smile.
Dental Bridge vs. Implant Bridge
A traditional dental bridge replaces one or more missing teeth.
This structure is typically made of false teeth (known as pontics) with two dental crowns on either end. The replacement teeth rest perfectly in the gap in your smile, while the crowns cover your healthy adjacent teeth to provide support.
But using a traditional bridge requires altering healthy teeth to make room for the dental crowns. Crowning a tooth involves removing portions of your enamel to fit the crown on top, which is an irreversible procedure. Once a traditional bridge is in place, those teeth will never grow back their enamel.
In contrast, an implant bridge doesn’t use your healthy teeth for support. Instead, it relies on dental implants that we place in your jawbone! The Mini Dental Implant Center of America (MDICA) in Springfield, MO, uses mini dental implants. These small titanium posts are typically about half the size of traditional implants, and about half the price as well.
Once we place them in your jawbone, they create a stable foundation that supports dental bridges without altering your healthy teeth.
The Implant Bridge Process
The implant bridge process is simple.
- We begin with a free implant consultation. There, we’ll take 3D digital scans of your jawbone to assess its quality. In most cases, we find that patients have enough bone for mini dental implants, which allows us to begin planning. We’ll create a treatment plan for your smile and schedule your placement appointment.
- Then we place your implants in a single visit. To place mini implants, we use a minimally invasive procedure that preserves a lot of your bone structure. We simply create a small opening through your gums and into your jawbone. Afterward, we place the implant in your jaw, where it immediately begins to stabilize.
- Finally, we secure your implant bridge restoration to permanently restore your smile. In some cases, we may need to provide you with a temporary prosthetic first to give your gums time to heal after an extraction. But otherwise, we’re usually able to place the final bridge that day.
Making Implant Bridges More Affordable in Springfield, MO
While implant bridges may surpass traditional bridges in stability and comfort, they do tend to be more expensive. Dental implants are made of high-quality titanium, which is both necessary and pricey. But for patients on a budget, it can be difficult to set aside money for procedures like implant treatment.
Unfortunately, not all insurance companies cover dental implants. Some plans may offer partial coverage for the implant or the bridge, while others may not cover anything at all. During your free implant consultation, we will review your insurance coverage with you. While we are out-of-network with all insurance companies, we’ll still help you understand what may be covered, so you have an accurate estimate of out-of-pocket costs.
For patients without insurance coverage, we offer flexible financing options. By partnering with third-party financing companies like CareCredit, Alpheon, and Cherry, we provide patients with ways to split their costs into monthly payments. Our office will help you apply and go over your options with you to find one that suits your budget.
Fill the Gap in Your Smile With Mini Dental Implants!
When issues like gum disease cause you to lose teeth, you may be left with large gaps in your smile. But at the MDICA in Springfield, MO, we offer implant bridges to restore your smile! We place mini implants in your jaw, replacing multiple missing teeth without affecting your natural teeth. Book a free implant consultation to learn if you qualify for mini implant treatment and how we can make your care more affordable.
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