Hi Andrew. Great question. Ok, so here's the scenario: You're missing 4 consecutive teeth, 2 bicuspids and 2 molars, and you're considering placing a bridge that connects your wisdom tooth to the canine tooth. This means that you will have a 6-unit bridge supported by two teeth, your canine and wisdom tooth, which will replace 4 missing teeth. Is it possible to do this? Yes. Is it a good idea to do it? Probably not! I always try to avoid long span bridges. A long bridge like that is almost guaranteed to break over time. Now, you may get 5 to 10 years out of it, sometimes more, but designing a bridge so large comes with plenty of risks. The bridge can break within 1 to 2 years. And then you're out all the money you spent on the bridge. The other problem is that the supporting teeth can fail over time. When you place such a large bridge, your entire bite forces on that side are distributed to the two supporting teeth. Keep in mind, we chew 250,000 times a years, so imagine what quadrupling the forces on these teeth will do to them! Typically, you'll lose one of the supporting teeth over time. Again, this may be 5 to 10 years from now, but it could also happen within 2 to 3 years. If you're okay getting a long-span bridge, with the understanding that the bridge has a 50% chance of failing within 5 to 10 years, then go for it. Of course as you know, a 6-unit bridge isn't cheap either... I'm guessing $4,000 to $6,000. So why not just spend a little bit more and get two dental implants instead? You can place two dental implants behind your canine teeth. This way you will have two more posts to support your bite forces. Plus, you're not risking losing the supporting teeth. Another option is getting a partial denture. Partial dentures cost a lot less, and they're a better option than a bridge for this particular case. Hope this answers your question. Let us know what you decide to do and how it works out.

@@johnjazayeri Thanks very much doctor for your thorough explanation. I’m already wearing a partial denture, just got it 2 weeks ago but my teeth which clasps go on are hurting when chewing and I’m afraid that with time I’m going to end up loosing them, so I’m exploring a possibility of 2 implants with a bridge over them. Thanks again for taking time to answer.

@@johnjazayeri Wouldn’t a bridge hooked on 2 teeth at the front be a good option instead ? Putting implants in this case involves a sinus lift procedure which sounds scary. Thanks

I once considered getting a bridge but since one of the teeth that would get a crown is still healthy, my dentist didn’t recommend it unless they were to do a root canal on it..I didn’t want to have to sacrifice that tooth so I passed on it. But I was grateful for her honesty

@@weeklyalexa257 So you just settled with a partial denture?

Hi Kayla. You can typically put a bridge on the two lower canine teeth to replace the missing front lower four teeth. However, this requires shaving down your canine teeth. You do get permanent teeth in contrast to partial dentures. Only do this if your canines are in good condition. Also, be sure to maintain regular hygiene, like 6 month cleanings, to keep the anchor teeth healthy. Dental implants are a better option, but they are much more costly. It's worth looking into it, especially if you're younger. Good luck!

Hi I have a question how long does this bridge last for and is it better than an implant? Also do you have to be put asleep for this procedure??????