Teeth replacements have come a long way in the last 30 years. Missing or extracted teeth raise common concerns of infection, injury, periodontal disease, or other reasons but the proper replacement is the key to a confident smile. When you’re missing a tooth, you have two options for replacement – install a dental implant or a dental bridge. Unfortunately, many patients don’t have the information they need to make the best choice for their oral health and smile.
In the past, a bridge was your only choice, and still involves more than just the missing tooth. A bridge is a non-removable prothesis that is used to replace a missing tooth. A bridge literally bridges the gap between the two natural teeth replacing the tooth that’s missing between them. The adjacent teeth need to be "prepared" in order to fabricate the bridge.
Advantages of Bridges
Esthetic,
functional, predictable, reliable
Less
costly
Requires
less time for final result
Disadvantages of Bridges
Requires
enamel removal of adjacent teeth
If
adjacent teeth have crowns, they must be redone
Tooth
decay is potential problem
Root
canal treatment may be required if nerves are affected
Greater
tendency for gum disease
Less
longevity than implants
Today,
dentists offer an alternative that involves less collateral damage- TOOTH IMPLANT. A dental implant is
actually a root replacement, and unlike the root of a tooth, it is actually
fused to the bone of the jaw. A crown is attached to the implant and in effect
it becomes a stand-alone tooth, functioning and appearing just like the natural
tooth you have lost. The crown is the part you see in the mouth, and the root
is the part that is encased in bone and keeps the tooth in place.
Advantages of Dental Implants
Esthetic,
functional, predictable, reliable
Does
not affect adjacent teeth
Does
not decay
Less
likely to develop gum disease
Placing
the implant in the bone prevents future bone loss because the bone and the
titanium rod actually begin to bond together. The bone does not know the
difference between the root of the natural tooth and the titanium rod.
Disadvantages of Dental Implants
More
expensive
More
planning time
Requires
minor surgery
Requires
healing time before permanent tooth replacement
Health of surrounding tissue plays
important than age.
For
a successful dental implant procedure, a patient's health is more important
than age. Because this procedure requires healing to work effectively,
candidates who aren’t ideal include smokers, patients with weakened immune
systems or patients with diabetes.
You
probably shouldn’t get an implant if you grind your teeth while sleeping. Also,
oral surgeons generally rule out children because their jawbones have not yet
matured.
Changes in your oral care routine
Your
ability to keep your mouth healthy will be easier with an implant. Dental
bridges are cemented or "fixed" in the mouth, and involve at least
three crowns connected together to fill the space of the missing tooth. This
design creates challenges when brushing and flossing, so extra oral hygiene
instruction and meticulous home care are crucial. In
contrast, implants can replace teeth individually without affecting other
teeth, making regular home care more successful. You can effectively brush and
floss around an implant just like your natural tooth.
DURABILITY
Dental
implants are more durable than bridges, allowing them to provide protection
that lasts a lifetime. Dental implant treatment has a track record of reliable,
long-term successful outcomes and is often considered “more predictable” than
other treatments.
