Stability of a dental bridge with short root teeth?

Question

I have a bridge from #7 to #9 teeth (10 yrs now). The previous bridge was five years due injury. The #7 and #9 teeth have short roots due to accident/trauma and braces. The roots have remained the same for at least a decade. I am considering a dental implant in #8. Is it best to not mess with this bridge because it provides almost splint-like support to #7 and #9 and thus no mobility for these short root teeth or would an implant provide the same stability and cause no damage to 7 and 9?

Nick M. Mobilia, DDS · Answer

In the case scenario presented, unless you were to add another tooth or two for esthetic purposes to the existing bridge, I would recommend leaving well enough alone. If your teeth have short roots and yet are able to retain a bridge without mobility, then you are very fortunate. An implant attaches to the bone in a different way than a tooth does. There is always the possibility that the implant will bear more biting pressure (occlusal load) and your natural short rooted teeth might bear less pressure. This scenario will cause your shorted rooted teeth to be in less function and could get even more lose.

Kevin Coughlin, DMD · Answer

Very difficult to decide without exam and radiographs but if the bridge and teeth are not loose I would stay with your natural teeth over the implant good luck

	 

	Kevin Coughlin DMD, MBA, MAGD

Stability of a dental bridge with short root teeth?

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