Bridge Design – Making Bridges Aesthetic and Increasing Longevity

Abstract

With the ever increasing amount of peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis (19%-65%) dentists are changing their treatment planning options and looking to save more Endo and Perio involved teeth and use as stand alone teeth or as bridge abutments. Understanding Bridge Design is therefore essential in modern dentistry.

This course will cover bridge design in the theory session covering success rates, stress breakers types & abutments, and how it improves success rate. Different types of design such as fixed fixed, adhesive, cantilever coping bridges and Lindhe/Nyman bridges with hands-on practical on phantom heads.

Course Aims

Discuss the reasons why bridges fail
Learn about the use of stress breakers
Choose which abutment teeth to use for best success
Decide whether the tooth preps need added resistance and retention form
Learn when Antes Law is still applicable in 2021
Teach you to decide when to plan fixed - movable vs fixed - fixed
Learn the skills to provide bridges in your practice the next day

Learning Objectives

Prepare a fixed movable bridge
Understand the concepts of stress breakers
Incorporate attachments into the bridge
Prepare box and grooves for added retention
Understand two-handed preparation
Plan a bridge for any combination of missing teeth

Agenda

08:00 – 08:30	Registration \| Welcoming coffee
08:30 – 10:30	Bridge Design Seminar
10:30 – 10:45	Discussions with the faculty
10:45 – 11:00	Coffee break
11:00 – 12:30	Bridge Design Seminar (Continued)
12:30 – 13:30	Lunch
13:30 – 16:00	Hands-on Practical: Bridge Preparation
16:00 – 16:15	Discussions with the faculty
16:15 – 16:30	Coffee break
16:30 – 18:00	Hands-on Practical: Bridge Preparation (Continued)
18:00	End