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!

Especially a third molar.  Dentists that push the limits of accepted methods and techniques usually do so in low risk areas, in this case in the anterior.  Bite forces increase as you go further back, and the forces on the third molar would stress the bridge, the implant and the bone supporting it all.

It always comes down to, "just because you can, doesn't mean you should."  If you want your investment to last as long as possible, this is a high risk option.  Some people are ok with spending the money on things like this knowing that it may not last as long as alternatives.

As stated elsewhere, this is a controversial approach among dentists.  Some say it is ok, some do not, but even the ones that say it is ok would likely NOT do it if it involved a third molar.

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!

I don't really recommend attaching an implant to a natural tooth in a bridge, even though I have done it successfully. Using a third molar as one of the abutments will increase the chance of problems. A better choice would be another single implant. A cantilever off the current implant might be a second choice.