Implant Bridges – Upper Back Teeth Case Example

Many people lose all of their back teeth on the upper or the lower jaw. Implant fixed bridges can replace your back teeth.

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My patient had broken the teeth on her upper bridge.  When that happens, the whole bridge fails and the teeth need to be extracted. The other side had no teeth at all.

What you are looking at are the broken, decayed roots.  The orange dots inside the teeth are root canal remnants.

The upper back teeth often time take the longest of all the teeth to replace.  This is because the bone is very soft in this area.  It is soft because the bone is full of bone marrow rather than the hard bone cortex.  Softer bone takes longer to heal around dental implants than harder bone. I highly suggest watching this short video. (if you cant see it click this link:  https://burbankdentalimplants.com/video-hard-or-soft-bone-what-is-better-for-dental-implants/)

Her plan and timing were as follows:

        Extract the teeth and bone graft the sockets> Wait four months for initial healing > Place the implants with an internal sinus lift for the upper right back most molar> Wait four months for the implants to heal > Make impressions for the real porcelain teeth and send to the lab > Place the final abutments and cement the bridges.

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If you do the math, this turns out to be about 9 months.  Many areas of the mouth can be done as same day procedures without the wait.  In other instances, going slow with each step greatly increases the chance of success.  Each person and situation is so different.

In her case, two implants were used on each side to support “three unit bridges.”  This means that three teeth are being replaced with two implants.

She was so happy.  She will be returning to have dental implants for her lower missing molars!

Ramsey A. Amin, D.D.S.
Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology /Implant Dentistry
Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry
Burbank, California

8 thoughts on “Implant Bridges – Upper Back Teeth Case Example”

  1. I have had all of my back teeth removed on 2/15/22 it left me with six on bottom and eight on top I was given partial plates that never fit and every time I see my dentist she just says give it time so I have not been wearing them and they are a hassle I have no dental insurance and pay out of pocket I’m having to have six of my top crowned which is costing me 7 grand I’m wondering what would be my best option to be a permanent fix to my back teeth I’m miserable and self conscious I’m only 26 years old and a nurse I shouldn’t be missing over half my teeth

    Reply
  2. Hi M.B, my name is Gennaro, from The Bronx, in NYC, and I’m 54 years old… I have many missing top teeth, with old bridgework that finally went bad, leaving me with exposed roots, and stubs of tooth matter left in my gums! For the past couple of years, I was homeless, living in my rented taxi, neglecting myself, and was very depressed… Thank GOD, a dear friend had taken me into his home, and now I’ve decided to have these other back top teeth and stubs removed, get a temporary Valplast Flexable Partial Denture, which will allow me to smile again… My long term goal, when I save enough money, is to get 2 Permanent Implants, and have a fixed bridge connected to my front showing teeth? I don’t want Titanium made, because of the known corrosive breakdown of their composites that can happen thoughout the years, causing other health issues! My father is one of them… I would look into Ceraroot Zirconia Implants, because they are less likely to cause health issues, doing enviormentally well in the jawbone, after having a them for many years? Anyway, nothing is certain, but as for myself, I feel more comfortable and assured heading in that direction of the dental work needed to be done… RealIy, I want and need to smile feeling more confident in myself, GOD BLESS, and Be Well…

    Reply
  3. Hello,
    I am 28 years old, from Algeria, I was searching about dental implants and I found really interessting information in your website, I thank you for the effort you made to put it all together.
    My issue is that I lost many teeth, 4 molars (2 in the lower jaw left side, one in lower jaw right side and 1 in upper jaw right side), and the last in the lower jaw is with fillin due to lack of caring in a time when I suffered from depression, and to be honest I didn’t care at that time.
    Now that I am out of that black hole I got like a wake up call, and I feel really terrible, specially that I am still young.
    I really hate myself and feel really terrible now … and reading about the disadvantages of implants (specially losing bone density ” I refused to extract the roots and they are still in the bone now”) makes me really scared about the future, coz I thought it could be a solution if I manage to raise enough money, but now I am really confused, specially that there aren’t high skilled Doctors here in Algeria, and no enough information, and the prices (1000$/implants) makes me doubt the quality I would get.
    I wish I had the possibility to be checked in this clinic, but I guess it is impossible for now, specially that I get 500$ a month, but I hope you can give me advises about what should I do.
    Thanks
    Thank you in advance

    Reply
    • Hi MB,

      I don’t know what living in Algeria is like. If you do end up having dental implants there, you need to make sure your dentist is highly trained and experienced in them. You could end up with bigger problems if they are not done correctly and worse yet have no one capable of correcting/treating problems.

      Do your due diligence. I wish you the best.

      Respectfully,

      Dr. Amin.

      Reply
      • Try a University dental school.
        I live in the US and there are great low cost options and modern supervised treatment by teal dentists. You may also ask if y qualify for any grants that the school might have.

        Reply
      • Try a University dental school.
        I live in the US and there are great low cost options and modern supervised treatment by real dentists. You may also ask if y qualify for any grants that the school might have.

        Reply

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