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Implant bridge for several missing teeth

Several missing teeth in a row can be replaced by a bridge on two or more implants. The bridge does not rely on natural teeth for support.

What it is

When several teeth are missing, a bridge can be fixed to two or more implants.1 The AAP states that multiple-tooth implants replace teeth without support from adjacent natural teeth.1 The bridge attaches to abutments after the implants have bonded with the bone, which the AAP describes as taking 2 to 6 months.1

Compared with the alternatives

The other common options are a tooth-supported bridge or a removable partial denture.1

Implant bridgeTooth-supported bridgeRemovable partial denture
SupportImplants1Natural teeth on each side1Remaining natural teeth2
Daily careBrushing and flossing1n/aRemoved and cleaned after eating, soaked overnight1

The ACP states that implants can also be added to increase the stability of a removable partial denture.2

Long-term results

A systematic review prepared for the EAO consensus in 2012 pooled 32 studies of implant-supported bridges with at least 5 years of follow-up.3

Measure5 years10 years
Implant survival95.6 percent93.1 percent
Bridge survival, metal-ceramic96.4 percent93.9 percent
Bridge survival, all types95.4 percent80.1 percent

The lower 10-year figure for all types includes older gold-acrylic bridge designs.3 Implant survival rose to 97.2 percent at 5 years when only rough-surface implants were counted.3

Maintenance items

In the same review, 66.4 percent of patients had no complication of any kind after 5 years.3 The most frequent events were:3

  • Fracture of the veneering material: 13.5 percent
  • Peri-implantitis and soft-tissue complications: 8.5 percent
  • Loss of the access-hole filling: 5.4 percent
  • Abutment or screw loosening: 5.3 percent
  • Loss of retention of cemented bridges: 4.7 percent

The authors recommended that patients be placed in a structured maintenance program after treatment.3

General information about dental implants. Treatment decisions are made with a licensed dentist.

Sources

  1. American Academy of Periodontology: Multiple Tooth Dental Implants. perio.org
  2. American College of Prosthodontists (GoToAPro): Dentures. gotoapro.org
  3. Pjetursson BE et al. Survival and complication rates of implant-supported fixed dental prostheses after at least 5 years. Clin Oral Implants Res 2012. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evidence

Sourced facts

Each line links to the study or the specialty body it comes from.

  1. The AAP states that multiple-tooth implants replace teeth without support from adjacent natural teeth.

    American Academy of Periodontology: Multiple Tooth Dental Implants · checked October 2, 2026

  2. The AAP states that removable partial dentures are taken out and cleaned after eating, while implant bridges are cleaned with brushing and flossing.

    American Academy of Periodontology: Multiple Tooth Dental Implants · checked October 2, 2026

  3. A systematic review (EAO 2012) of 32 studies found implant survival of 95.6 percent at 5 years and 93.1 percent at 10 years under implant-supported bridges.

    Pjetursson BE et al. Survival and complication rates of implant-supported fixed dental prostheses after at least 5 years: systematic review (EAO). Clin Oral Implants Res 2012 · checked October 2, 2026

  4. Metal-ceramic implant bridges had 96.4 percent survival at 5 years and 93.9 percent at 10 years.

    Pjetursson BE et al. Survival and complication rates of implant-supported fixed dental prostheses after at least 5 years: systematic review (EAO). Clin Oral Implants Res 2012 · checked October 2, 2026

  5. 66.4 percent of patients were free of any complication after 5 years; the most frequent was veneer fracture (13.5 percent).

    Pjetursson BE et al. Survival and complication rates of implant-supported fixed dental prostheses after at least 5 years: systematic review (EAO). Clin Oral Implants Res 2012 · checked October 2, 2026

  6. The ACP states that implants may increase the stability of a removable partial denture.

    American College of Prosthodontists (GoToAPro): Dentures · checked October 2, 2026

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Dr. Michael Pawlus
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Dr. Michael Pawlus

Periodontist · Sarasota

ICOI Fellow, ICOI Diplomate · AAP member

Doctor page(941) 923-2288
Featured doctorDr. Michael Pawlus · Sarasota