Brockley Dental Blog, Dental Bridges, Dental Implants, Dentures, Mini Dental Implants, Restorative Dentistry

Implant Bridge Solutions That Feel More Like Natural Teeth [Video Inside]

Implant Bridge in Butler, PA [Video Inside] | Restore Your Smile

A structural bridge helps connect the world and bring people together. These arching structures span things like rivers and ravines, allowing people to cross from one space to the next. A dental bridge does something similar, but rather than connecting people, dental bridges connect your teeth. These restorations replace one or more missing teeth, literally bridging the gaps in your smile where natural teeth once were. An implant bridge does the same, but while relying on dental implants for support. These titanium screws embed in your jaw, anchoring your bridge in place to give your smile a natural look and feel.

What Is an Implant Bridge?

Implant Bridge in Butler, PA [Video Inside] | Traditional Dental Bridge Process
A traditional bridge uses dental crowns on each end for support.
A traditional dental bridge replaces missing teeth using the remaining teeth on either side of the gap for support. Both ends of a dental bridge have dental crowns, or tooth-shaped caps that cover natural teeth. Between these crowns are pontics, or replacement teeth. By crowning the teeth adjacent to the gap in your smile, we create a strong anchor for the pontics that replace your missing teeth.

Unfortunately, crowning teeth involves removing some enamel, permanently altering your healthy teeth. Additionally, because traditional bridges only replace the surface of your teeth, and not the roots that used to extend underneath your gums, they do nothing to prevent bone loss. Over time, your jaw may shrink, leading to shifting teeth and changes in your face shape.

But at Brockley Dental Center, we offer implant bridges! These restorations look similar to a traditional bridge, with pontics replacing your teeth, but without the crowns. Because implant bridges rely on dental implants for support, we don’t have to alter your healthy teeth. Instead, an implant bridge simply secures to a row of implants in your mouth, permanently bridging the gap in your smile.

The Benefits of Using Mini Dental Implants

At Brockley Dental Center, we use mini dental implants. These titanium posts are smaller than conventional implants and less of a hassle, too. Mini implants offer incredible benefits to patients, as they are:

  • Less invasive: Conventional dental implants are large in diameter. To fit them in your jaw, you’ll need ample bone structure, which many patients don’t have. Additionally, to place these implants, an implant dentist needs to use incisions and large drills, which are invasive procedures. In contrast, mini implants have a simple, minimally invasive procedure that doesn’t involve incisions or large drills.
  • Faster healing: Because the mini implant process is so gentle, patients often heal faster. Immediately after placing your implants, we’ll attach a temporary (or in some cases final) restoration that very same day! Then, you’ll experience one day of minimal discomfort and a few short weeks of healing.
  • Less expensive: Conventional dental implants are larger and come with multiple components. Between the various parts and procedures necessary to place a conventional implant, it’s no surprise that they can be expensive for patients. Fortunately, mini implants are only one piece and only need one placement appointment! With mini implant treatment, patients save time and money.

What is an Implant Roundhouse Bridge?

When a patient needs all of their teeth replaced, we typically use a full denture. But when a patient wants to replicate the strength, stability, and appearance of their natural teeth, we recommend a roundhouse bridge!

Implant Bridge in Butler, PA [Video Inside] | Restore Your Smile
A roundhouse bridge resembles an arch of natural teeth that anchor directly to dental implants.
A roundhouse bridge is a full arch of teeth that we secure on implants to replace your whole smile. These bridges look like natural teeth and don’t use the same bulky gum base that dentures do. Instead, the teeth secure directly over your implants, creating a natural-looking restoration. And with the support of mini implants, they provide a strong and reliable bite.

Brockley Dental Center offers two types of roundhouse bridges.

A semi-removable roundhouse bridge anchors to 6 to 10 implants that we place strategically around your mouth. Once on your implants, you never take the restoration out. However, we’ll need to take it out during routine cleanings for regular maintenance.

A non-removable roundhouse bridge is permanently cemented in place on 10 to 12 mini implants. This restoration, as the name implies, is non-removable. Not only will you never take the roundhouse bridge out, but we won’t either! Instead, we treat a non-removable roundhouse bridge like your natural teeth, brushing and flossing regularly.

Fill the Gaps in Your Smile in Butler, PA, at Brockley Dental Center!

A bridge helps people stay connected, and a dental bridge can do the same. By bridging the gaps in your smile with a natural-looking and feeling prosthetic, you can smile and chew confidently! At Brockley Dental Center, we offer a reliable implant bridge that is anchored in place. With an implant bridge, you can live every day confident that your smile is secure on your mini implants. And for those who’ve lost all of their teeth, we offer roundhouse dental bridge options to fully restore your smile.

Book an initial consultation with us in Butler, PA, to find out whether you’re eligible for an implant bridge.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for a better look at the minimally invasive mini implant process. 

Donald B. Brockley, DMD

Dr. Brockley earned his doctorate degree in Dental Medicine from the University of Pittsburgh, School of Dental Medicine in 1972. He is a second generation dentist and a legacy of the University of Pittsburgh, School of Dental Medicine where his father, Dr. Charles R. Brockley earned his doctorate in general dentistry in the year 1927. While attending the University of Pittsburgh, School of Dental Medicine, he held the office of Class Secretary for his graduating class. Following dental school, he chose to do his residency training at Wilmington Medical Center in Wilmington, Delaware, with a focus on research. Upon completing his residency, Dr. Brockley enlisted in the Navy during the Vietnam War Era as a Naval Officer. Dr. Brockley opened his own private practice 1975 in Butler, PA a historic town just 34 miles north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dr. Brockley held the office of President of the Butler County Dental Society. After many years of practice, Dr. Brockley realized that fear is the #1 reason why people do not visit their dentist regularly. Therefore, he made it his mission to find an alternative way to practice (and to help his patients overcome this fear). This alternative was through Sedation Dentistry. In 1996 he became trained in Conscious Oral Sedation. This technique allowed him to treat fearful patients by gently putting them to sleep with the aid of a pill, not needle IV sedation which was the popular treatment at that time. Dr. Brockley received his dental training at the following institutions: University of Pittsburgh, School of Dental Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA Tufts University, School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA University of North Carolina, School of Dentistry, Raleigh, NC Mini Dental Implant Training Centre, Buffalo, NY. Due to the high number of patients who are diabetic in his practice, his next goal was to understand the impact of Diabetes in Dentistry. Due to the subset of Diabetic patients in his practice who had similar recurring oral and systemic health problems, special attention became warranted. This led to a different standard of care and treatment for patients whose health was compromised by diabetes. Early detection, observation, evaluation and treatment to eradicate infection plays a major role in maintaining oral health for diabetic patients. Poorly managed treatment for diabetic patients has been shown to lead to a higher risk of uncontrolled gum disease and vice versa, making prevention of gum disease the #1 priority for this subset of patients. Dr. Brockley’s research on dentistry for diabetics led him to his next specialization: the treatment and eradication of gum disease. His aim has been to change the the treatment of gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. For this reason, he designed a radically different protocol to the Soft Tissue Management (STM) program. STM treats the symptoms of gum disease, and more importantly, the underlying cause of gum disease, bacteria. Studies have shown that gum disease affects 80% of American adults. However, Dr. Brockley has observed that more than 90% of his baby boomer patients have gum disease. His unique STM protocol has shown significant success within his patient population. With patient knowledge, understanding, and cooperation, Dr. Brockley is able to arrest and manage gum disease in his practice. After perfecting his procedures for crowns, bridges, partials and dentures to replace missing teeth, the introduction of Small Diameter Implants (also known as SDI or Mini Dental Implants) into his practice has revolutionized the way Dr. Brockley practices cosmetic dentistry. Small Diameter Implants provide the possibility of full mouth restoration, multiple teeth restoration, or single tooth restoration. Small Diameter Implants can be implemented in all types of tooth and bone conditions, in all ages, and in all types of health conditions. Dr. Brockley uses Small Diameter Implants to restore chewing ability and create beautiful smiles, which ultimately changes peoples’ lives. Dr. Brockley is the proud owner and operator of the first Mini Dental Implant Center of America in the Greater Pittsburgh area. Dr. Brockley has achieved Diplomate status in the International Academy of Mini Dental Implants. He is the President Emeritus of the Butler County Dental Society. Dr. Brockley was also a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Dental Corps. He is a a lifetime member of the Delta Sigma Dental Fraternity, and he was the Class Secretary for the University of Pittsburgh Dental School. Dr. Brockley likes to spend time with his family at home or while traveling, has been an avid scuba diver since 1980, and describes himself as a “just okay” golfer.

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