Temporary and Final Full-Arch Bridges
A full arch of teeth on implants is made twice: a temporary bridge, fitted around the time the implants are placed, and a final bridge once the implants have healed into the bone. The choice of final material affects strength, appearance and how the bridge is maintained.
Our Beverly Hills office at 414 N. Camden Dr., Suite 750 opens in January 2027. Until then, call (310) 444-5217 and we'll arrange your consultation.
The temporary bridge
The temporary bridge is made of acrylic and connected to the implants at, or soon after, the surgery. Acrylic is softer than the final materials, so the temporary is made slightly bulkier for strength. While the implants heal, gentle chewing and a soft diet protect them.
Final bridge: acrylic teeth on a titanium frame
A custom titanium framework is designed digitally and milled to fit the implants, and acrylic resin teeth are built over it. When the teeth wear, the framework can often be kept and the teeth renewed over it, rather than the whole bridge being remade.
Our Beverly Hills office at 414 N. Camden Dr., Suite 750 opens in January 2027. Until then, call (310) 444-5217 and we'll arrange your consultation.
Final bridge: zirconia
A zirconia bridge is ceramic, built in layered translucent material for a natural appearance. It is the highest-end option in appearance, and resists staining. It can be carried on a milled titanium bar for added strength.
Why the two arches may differ
In a full-mouth case the upper and lower bridges need not be the same material. Some patients with zirconia on both arches notice a clicking sound as the teeth meet; an upper zirconia bridge opposite a lower acrylic-on-titanium bridge reduces it. Which combination suits you is part of planning the bite.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is made of acrylic, which is softer than the final materials, so it needs a little more bulk to stay strong while the implants heal.
Yes. A common combination is zirconia on the upper arch with acrylic teeth on a titanium frame on the lower, which can reduce the clicking some patients notice with zirconia against zirconia.
Written from Dr. Reshad's lectures and articles · Reviewed by Dr. Mamaly Reshad, DDS, MSc (Distinction), FICD, MICOI, Prosthodontist, Beverly Hills · Last reviewed
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