The most common problem with older All-on-4 bridges
- A tooth has chipped, cracked or popped off your bridge — maybe more than once
- The teeth look worn flat, stained or dull compared to when they were new
- You have paid for repeated repairs, and each one seems to last less time
- You notice odour or staining around the bridge that cleaning doesn't fix
- You find yourself avoiding certain foods, waiting for the next break
This is not bad luck, and it usually isn't a problem with your implants. Most full-arch bridges made in the past 10–15 years used acrylic denture teeth on a titanium frame — the standard of the day. But acrylic is plastic, and implants transmit your full biting force straight into it. Clinical studies consistently report acrylic tooth fracture as the most common complication of these bridges.
One piece of zirconia. No teeth to pop off.
We replace the failing acrylic with a bridge milled from a single block of Zirkonzahn Prettau® 2 zirconia, bonded to a precision-milled titanium bar. The teeth and the arch are one solid piece of ceramic — there are no glued joints to fail.
Nothing to debond
Acrylic bridges fail because each plastic tooth is glued to a base. A monolithic zirconia arch has no glued teeth — the structure is milled as one.
Your implants stay
If your implants are healthy, the new bridge is engineered to fit them. Our on-site 3D CBCT scan confirms this before anything is decided. For most patients, no new surgery.
Resists stain and odour
Zirconia is a glazed, non-porous ceramic. It doesn't absorb fluid the way acrylic does, so it resists the staining and odour older bridges develop.
Designed digitally
The bridge is designed in CAD software and milled to fit a titanium bar verified against your exact implant positions — not hand-assembled.
Why patients choose zirconia
- One-piece ceramic — no individual teeth to fracture off
- Far more wear-resistant than acrylic
- Usually reuses your existing implants
- Cleaner surface — less staining, less odour
Things to weigh up
- Costs more up front than another acrylic bridge
- If zirconia ever chips, repair is a lab job, not a quick re-glue
- Heavy grinders may still need a night guard to protect it
- If imaging shows implant problems, the plan changes — we'll tell you before you spend anything
Three visits, roughly
Assessment
We examine your current bridge and take a 3D CBCT scan of your implants. You leave with a clear diagnosis and a fixed written quote. If your bridge is broken right now, we can usually stabilise it first so you're not left without teeth.
Design and try-in
Your new arch is designed digitally. You preview and approve the shape, bite and shade before the final zirconia is milled.
Fit
The finished Prettau® 2 bridge is secured to your implants. You keep wearing your current bridge until the new one is ready.
Made for our patients, not from a catalogue
Zirconia bridges produced for Epping Family Dental patients — milled Prettau® 2 zirconia on titanium bars.
IMAGES: ACTUAL LABORATORY WORK FOR EPPING FAMILY DENTAL PATIENTS.
Backed by our eight-year fracture warranty.
That price includes the digital design and try-in, the Prettau® 2 zirconia bridge, the milled titanium bar, and fitting — confirmed as a fixed written quote before we start. And we publish it, because you shouldn't have to sit through a sales consult just to hear a number. No dentist can guarantee how long any prosthesis will last, and we won't pretend otherwise. The warranty is how we back our materials with our own money, in writing.
*From-price is per arch on healthy existing implants; complex cases are quoted individually at assessment. Excludes new implants if required and a night guard if recommended. Warranty covers fracture of the Prettau® 2 zirconia structure; conditions: six-monthly maintenance visits and wearing your night guard if we recommend one. Components such as screws are covered separately. Full terms provided in writing at assessment. This warranty is provided in addition to your rights under Australian Consumer Law.
Straight answers
Can you use my implants if another clinic placed them?
Usually, yes. We work with all major implant systems and identify your exact components from 3D imaging and records. If the clinic that placed your implants has closed or you've moved, we can still help.
What if my bridge is broken right now?
Call us. We can usually repair or stabilise your existing bridge first so you're not left without teeth, then plan the permanent replacement without pressure.
What does it cost?
Zirconia bridge conversions start from $12,900 per arch on healthy existing implants — considerably less than the original All-on-4, because your implants are reused. The exact price depends on one arch or two, your implant type and the bar design. You'll receive a fixed written quote at your assessment, and the price we quote is the price you pay.
Can I claim on my health fund?
We're a preferred provider for BUPA, Medibank, NIB and CBHS. Rebates depend on your level of cover — bring your fund details to the assessment and we'll give you the item numbers so you can confirm your rebate before deciding anything.
Will I be without teeth during the process?
No. You keep wearing your current bridge while the new one is designed and milled. It only comes off for measurements and the final fit.
Is zirconia really that much stronger than acrylic?
Yes. Acrylic denture teeth are plastic; Prettau® 2 is a high-strength ceramic milled as one piece and supported by a titanium bar. Long-term studies of full-arch bridges consistently report acrylic tooth fracture as the most common complication, while monolithic zirconia structures show very low fracture rates. Zirconia isn't indestructible — nothing in a mouth is — which is why the warranty above is written the way it is.
Find out exactly what's failing — and what a permanent fix costs
Examination of your current bridge, 3D imaging of your implants, and a fixed written quote. No pressure — just answers.
Call the practice Request my assessment ↑
Epping Family Dental · 149 Pennant Parade, Epping NSW 2121
Mon–Fri 9:00am–6:00pm · Sat 8:00am–3:00pm
Preferred provider: BUPA, Medibank, NIB, CBHS