Since implants preserve bone, why would a dentist recommend a tooth-supported bridge?
Until the late 1980s, traditional tooth-supported bridges were considered the “gold standard” for replacing missing teeth. Advancements in technology have given dentists more options to offer to their patients, but bridges will sometimes still be the restoration of choice, especially when teeth already have large fillings and can benefit from the protection of crowns attached to traditional bridges. In these cases, particularly in the back of the mouth where bone melts away much more slowly when there are adjacent natural teeth, dentists may recommend a traditional bridge rather than implant treatment. However, most dentists abhor the idea of grinding down perfect teeth to place a bridge, so they will recommend implant treatment for their patients when possible.
