When Implant Replacement Surgery Feels Burdensome, Bridge Treatment

Hello.

I am Director Yoon Tae-ho,

a doctor who helps restore patients’ healthy smiles.

When a tooth is lost,

the first treatment that comes to mind is an implant.

However, there are also people for whom surgery is difficult for various reasons.

Fear of surgery can play a role,

and it may also be difficult because of an illness you are being treated for.

"I absolutely do not want surgery!"

This is an article that may be helpful for patients who say this firmly.

I will introduce a treatment method that can be considered in this situation.

How about this method?

When implant replacement surgery feels burdensome, bridge treatment

What is bridge treatment?

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A bridge, as the name suggests, is a treatment that connects the missing tooth area by using the adjacent teeth, like a bridge.

Before implants became widespread,

this treatment was performed often.

The difference from an implant is that

the method of restoring the missing tooth site is an implant,

while a bridge is a form that simply places an artificial tooth in the missing space.

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This can be chosen in the following cases.

This applies when an implant is difficult.

• When bone grafting is needed but is not possible due to circumstances
• When the teeth are tilted significantly, making implant surgery difficult
• When surgery feels burdensome due to systemic conditions (such as diabetes, osteoporosis, etc.)
• Fear of surgery
• When treatment must be completed quickly

If you need to go abroad or have to enlist in the military,

bridge treatment may also be performed when the treatment period is tight.

Because implants need time to integrate with the bone,

they usually take an average of 3 to 5 months.

By comparison, a bridge can sometimes be completed

within as little as 1 to 2 weeks.

Above all, because surgery is not necessary,

you can be free from the burden of pain and recovery.

240208 After removing an old bridge, the healthy teeth on both sides have been damaged.

The downside is that healthy adjacent teeth must be reduced. This can reduce the lifespan of the teeth on both sides in the long term.

If a bridge had not been done,

there would have been no need to reduce the teeth.

This means that even though bridges exist as an implant alternative,

if the teeth on both sides are not healthy,

bridge treatment may also be difficult.

If care is not taken properly, cavities or gum disease may develop under the prosthesis.

Also, even if only one tooth has a problem,

to treat the tooth with the issue,

all of the treated teeth may need to be removed, which is another downside.

250218 One tooth has a problem, but the connected bridge needs to be removed.

A bridge is a useful alternative when an implant cannot be done

or when the patient is hesitant about surgery.

Whether it is implant treatment or a bridge, what matters is

a treatment plan that suits the patient’s situation.

It is also important to consider the long-term perspective

and choose what is more favorable for the patient.

I hope you have learned the advantages and disadvantages of a bridge,

which can restore missing teeth without surgery.

Thank you!

#ImplantAlternative