Can a Bridge Be Made on an Implant and Connect to a Tooth

Under no circumstances should you use an implant in the first molar position as an anchor for a bridge connecting a wisdom tooth.  This is contraindicated and is a situation that is set up to fail.  The chewing forces are too strong that far back in the mouth to try this.  Natural teeth flex slightly when chewing due to the periodontal ligament that attaches teeth to bone.  Dental implants do not have this ligament and do not flex when chewing forces are applied.  Over time too much force would be placed on the implant causing the bridge and ultimately the implant to fail. Not a good idea!

Hi,

Connecting the third molar (natural tooth) to first molar (implant) is not recommended for the following reasons:

1. implants and natural teeth have different type of connection to the bone and there are reports to suggest problems in long term.

2. Third molars are highly prone to gum disease and decay and often require extraction for best hygiene access. Its use to support a bridge is not recommended.

3. Upper back area has the high forces of chewing and bone quality is usually thinner than other areas. Best design is one implant per missing tooth. Even implant bridges are not recommended in this area.

Hope this is helpful

Dr.  Kazemi

Simply put I do not recommend connecting implant supported teeth to natural teeth. Natural teeth are connected to bone with a resilient ligament which is not the case for dental implants. This difference in resiliency could lead to many problems such as intrusion of the natural tooth or the fracturing of implant or screw components. This risk is ill advised due to other alternatives which are more reliable in replacing missing teeth. Your dentist will be able to give you the specific details as to how it applies to your circumstance!