- Anchor Implant System -

It is increasingly considered to be unacceptable, by dentists as well as patients, to fully grind down healthy elements in order to fit a conventional bridge.
On average, 50 to 60% of the abutments are ground down when a conventional bridge is fitted. Although the prognosis for conventional bridges is good, the prognosis for conventionally ground abutments eventually becomes worse as a consequence of this non-reversible treatment.

An alternative to the conventional bridge is the etched bridge. Over the past 20 years, a great deal of clinical research has been done into this technique. The major problem with etched bridges is the lack of retention, especially in the lateral parts.
Moreover, the etching bridge technique is a sensitive technique. In university clinics, where working conditions are usually more favourable, the results achieved with etched bridges tend to be considerably better than those achieved in general practice.

The Crownless Bridge Works (CBW®) anchor implant system has been developed to solve these problems.
Because this technique uses a combination of pin-anchoring and adhesive fitting, it has a number of advantages over etched bridges and conventional bridges:

In comparison with conventional bridges, hardly any healthy dental tissue is sacrificed
Due to the pin-anchoring, the bridge element can withstand more pressure, which is distributed better between the abutments
Due to the lack of crown edges there is no periodontal pressure, as is the case with conventional bridges
Less interference with the existing occlusion and articulation due to the lack of abutment crowns or extensive retainers
The treatment is largely reversible and repairable
The treatment procedure is straightforward and involves less time than is the case with conventional bridges
The material costs are lower in comparison with conventional bridges
The treatment is not very stressful for the patient
Because this technique involves no crown edges or extensive metal retainers and the abutments are kept fully intact, it has major aesthetic advantages.
To avoid esthetic problems, for instance in case of very thin abutment teeth in the front area, zirconium (a tooth colored ceramic material) anchors are available. Zirconium anchors are also very suitable in combination with fully ceramic bridge-elements (e.g. Empress®).

• 1- maximum chewing forces posterior
• 2- maximum chewing forces anterior