How to make an informed decision between a dental bridge and dental implant.
A missing tooth or multiple missing teeth can negatively impact everything from your overall oral health to your self-confidence. Although teeth certainly can’t regrow, a missing tooth is far from a permanent problem. Thanks to restorative dentistry, there are plenty of options for replacing missing teeth and getting back a full, healthy smile. A dental bridge or a dental implant are both great options for replacing one or more missing teeth. Choosing between them can be a bit overwhelming, but with the following basic information, you should feel more confident about which option is right for your smile.
What you need to know about dental implants.
Dental implant technology isn’t exactly new, but the demand for dental implants is steadily growing each year. They are considered to be—by dentists and patients alike—a superior choice for permanently replacing missing teeth.
How They Work
Dental implants are a three-piece prosthetic tooth made of a titanium implant post, an abutment, and a dental crown. Dental implants mimic the feel and function of a natural tooth in a way that other restorative options can’t. They are beautiful, permanent, and a great oral health investment.
Treatment Process
Oral surgery is necessary to place dental implants. The titanium post will be placed in your jawbone, to mimic how a tooth root would grow. In some cases, a bone graft will be needed if your tooth was lost a while ago and bone loss has occurred. From there, an abutment will be placed to form the foundation for the dental crown.
Dental implants require a lengthy healing period (usually a few months) in order for your jawbone to grow around and fuse to the titanium post. Depending on the technique being used, your implant post may be left to fully heal before the dental crown placement is completed. Implant-supported options may allow you to have a new smile much more quickly.
Longevity & Durability
Dental implants are exceptionally durable and long-lasting. Because they are a three-piece prosthetic, overall longevity does depend on the “piece” in question. The titanium post itself can easily last a lifetime and won’t need to be replaced. The dental crown may need to be replaced just as a normal dental crown might. However, plenty of dental crowns last well over 15 years without damage.
Cost Versus Value
Dental implants are more expensive than dental bridges, and most other dental procedures for that matter. However, it’s important to understand cost versus value when discussing dental implants. Simply put, the upfront cost of a dental implant is high, but the health benefits and longevity often wind up costing patients less money in the long run.
Treatment Candidacy
More people than ever before are candidates for dental implants. Young adults, middle-aged adults, and seniors can all benefit from dental implants. The only potential obstacles that may affect implant candidacy are general health and any underlying medical conditions, particularly conditions that increase risks of infection.
What you need to know about dental bridges.
Dental bridges are the more traditional option for replacing one or more missing teeth. They remain a popular choice today, even with the numerous advantages of dental implants.
How They Work
A dental bridge also requires a few different pieces for the finished prosthetic product. The pontic is the main piece of a dental bridge as it forms the actual prosthetic tooth that will fill in the gap for the missing tooth or teeth. Your dentist will also place a dental crown on the teeth neighboring the gap, which is often referred to as anchor or abutment teeth.
Treatment Process
A dental bridge is minimally invasive, especially when compared to a dental implant. There isn’t any lengthy healing period and from start to finish only about two or three weeks will have passed.
During the first appointment, your anchor teeth will be prepped for their crowns and impressions taken. These impressions will be used to create the crowns as well as the pontic. You’ll be fitted with a temporary bridge during this time. After the labs send your dentist the finished crowns and pontic, your second appointment will take place where all of the pieces come together to form your beautiful new smile.
Longevity & Durability
Modern dental bridges are fairly durable, but care should be taken to not bite down on very hard or sticky foods. They don’t have quite the same bite power as natural teeth or a fully healed dental implant. In terms of longevity, most dental bridges will last five to 15 years before needing to be replaced.
Cost Versus Value
Dental bridges are performed so frequently because they offer numerous benefits and are fairly affordable for patients. A dental bridge is less expensive than a dental implant, but again, they will need to be replaced, which raises their long-term cost. For patients who are interested in implants but may not be financially ready for them, a dental bridge can be a great solution to fill in missing teeth for a few years until they are ready for an implant.
Treatment Candidacy
Due to their minimally invasive nature, dental bridges are ideal for a wide range of patients. Since oral surgery and lengthy healing periods aren’t needed, they can be the ideal restorative choice for patients with compromised immune systems.
Make your final decision with help from Dickinson & Branon Dental Care.
After reading this post you should have a good idea of which prosthetic tooth option is most appealing to you. The next step is to schedule a consultation at Dickinson & Branon Dental Care.
From there you can discuss your smile with your dentist and find out if you’re a candidate for the procedure you’re most interested in. If it turns out a dental bridge or dental implant may not be the best choice, your dentist will offer a beneficial alternative to help you get a full smile once again.
Schedule your consultation today by calling our St. Albans office or filling out this online form.