Two implants placed at the ends of the gap can support a fixed bridge across the whole span — the same splinting principle behind a full arch, just at a much smaller scale.
How it works
Two implants, one bridge
Like a single implant, it leaves the neighboring natural teeth alone. A traditional tooth-supported bridge would grind those teeth down to serve as anchors instead — this doesn't touch them.
Day 0
Place two implants
Positioned at the ends of the gap, spanning the missing teeth between them.
3–4 months
Integration
Same physics as a single implant — each post still needs to integrate before it can carry the bridge.
Then
Bridge seated
One fixed bridge is placed across both implants, replacing every missing tooth in the gap.
The real trade-off
Implant-supported bridge vs. a traditional bridge
A traditional bridge replaces missing teeth by anchoring a fixed row of crowns to your own teeth on either side of the gap — which means grinding those teeth down, healthy or not, to serve as the anchors. It's faster and often cheaper up front. But it puts the entire load on two teeth that didn't need any work before, and if either one fails later, the whole bridge usually has to be redone.
An implant-supported bridge does the same job with two implants placed in the gap itself. The teeth on either side stay untouched. It costs more up front and takes longer — several months for the implants to integrate — but nothing beyond the gap is altered, and there's no natural tooth underneath that can later decay under the bridge.
It's a real trade-off between upfront cost and speed versus long-term preservation of healthy teeth either side. We'll lay out both numbers for your specific case.
A common question
Do I need one implant per missing tooth?
No. Two implants at the ends of a gap can often support a bridge across three, sometimes four, missing teeth between them — determined by the bone available and how much bite force that span will carry, not by a fixed rule. We plan the exact count from your 3D scan.
The honest part
What we can't promise you
Just like a single implant, we cannot guarantee an extraction site will take an implant until the tooth is actually out and the site is assessed. When it doesn't cooperate, grafting and a delayed placement is the more predictable path — it adds months, but it's still the right call.
Who does the surgery
Sometimes Dr. Carr, sometimes a surgeon we work with
Dr. Carr performs many implant cases start to finish here. On some others he coordinates with a surgeon — because the anatomy calls for it, because the case is overly complex, or because it simply may increase the odds of a better outcome for that patient. Either way, the planning and the final bridge stay here.
Getting started
How the first visit works
01
Imaging and planning
A 3D scan shows the bone volume, the nerve position and the sinus. That determines whether same-day placement is realistic, whether grafting is likely, and what the whole thing will cost — in writing, before anything is scheduled.
02
Surgery day
Extraction if teeth are still there, then placement of both implants if the sites cooperate. Grafting material where it is needed.
03
Restoration
Three to four months later, once both implants have integrated, the fixed bridge is seated across them.
Questions
Before you book
Why not just get a traditional bridge?
A traditional bridge anchors to your own teeth on both sides of the gap, grinding them down to hold it. If those teeth are healthy, an implant-supported bridge leaves them alone entirely, at the cost of more time and a higher upfront price.
Do I need one implant for every missing tooth in the row?
No. Two implants placed at the ends of a gap can often support a fixed bridge across three or more missing teeth between them, depending on bone and bite forces.
Am I too old, or is my bone too thin?
Age on its own is rarely the barrier. Bone volume can be, and that is what the 3D scan is for. Thin bone often means grafting first rather than no implant at all.
Does it hurt?
Many of our patients tell us implant placement was easier than they expected — and some say it was easier than the extractions. It is done numb, and sedation options are available if the thought of it is what has kept you away.
How long do implants last?
Implants themselves commonly last decades. The bridge on top is a normal restoration and may need replacing over that span. What threatens an implant most is gum disease around it and uncontrolled grinding, which is why the cleaning schedule and a night guard matter afterward.
Does it matter if I'm on osteoporosis medication?
It can. Certain osteoporosis medications — bisphosphonates and similar drugs — are linked to slower jaw healing, and that risk tends to rise the longer someone has been on them. If you're taking one, or your doctor is about to start you on one, tell us at your first visit. We coordinate with your prescribing doctor before finalizing anything.
Does insurance cover implants?
Coverage varies a great deal and is often partial at best. We check your specific plan and give you the real number before anything is scheduled.
Where exactly are you?
2072 E Southern Ave, A103, Tempe, AZ 85282. This building has three dental offices total — A101, A102, and us at A103 — so double-check the suite number if you're using GPS.
Not quite your situation?
For general information beyond what's here: MouthHealthy.org (American Dental Association), and the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners, where you can verify any dentist's license.
Book
If a tooth is coming out, ask about this first.
The decision about placing an implant is best made before the extraction, not after.
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