Bridge vs. Implant

Mr. Phung has gum disease.  When he loses a top front tooth (Fig.1,2,5: #9), his previous dentist makes a bridge by grinding 4 of his virgin teeth (#7,8,10 and 11).  The patient feels difficult to clean the bridge, since the 5-unit bridge joins together.  He cannot floss at the connection (Fig.2 *).  In contrast, the single-unit crown at #6 is separate from the bridge.  There is no problem to floss (Fig.2 arrow).  When Mr. Phung has a loose tooth in the bottom (Fig.1,3: #25) with an abscess (*), he comes to our office for an implant (Fig.4 I).  He finds easy to clean the immediate temporary crown (Fig.5 (photo taken 3 week after surgery): T).

Furthermore, the teeth that have been ground and cut (such as #6-8, 10 and 11) are much more vulnerable to gum disease and cavity.

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Xin Wei, DDS, PhD, MS 1st edition 07/09/2017, last revision 07/09/2017