Implant-supported bridge
An Implant-supported bridge is a dental prosthesis supported by one or more implants replacing three or more teeth. Implant-supported bridges are similar to a regular bridge. Typically, when an implant-supported bridge is used, one implant is installed for each missing tooth. The supervising surgeon will then connect the crowns together to form one unified bridge.
Implant-supported fixed partial dentures can be either screw retained or cemented, depending upon the type of treatment strategy employed by the orthodontist. One drawback of cemented implant-supported bridges are that they cannot be easily removed as they are permanently fixed. Ideally, implant-supported bridges reduce the need for "cutting down" adjacent teeth and can have a better long-term prognosis for dental patient.