Should You Get a Dental Implant or a Bridge?
Losing your teeth can have a huge impact on
the appearance of your smile and put a big dent on your self-confidence. At the
same time, it also creates functionality issues. Two of the most common
solutions that dentists use to address tooth loss are dental implants
and dental bridges. But which of these two should you get? To make sure that
you pick the right choice, read on as we go through each of their facts, pros
and cons.
Implants are a great option if you lost a
tooth to periodontal disease, injury or other reasons. An implant is a titanium
post that supports a crown, which is surgically inserted to fuse into the
jawbone. After this process of osseointegration is complete, the dental crown
is cemented or screwed into it.
Pros of Dental Implants
·
Minimal maintenance – High
quality dental implants can last a lifetime with very little maintenance
required.
·
Natural looking – Implants
look, feel and function like natural teeth. They are stable and strong, and
give a confident smile.
·
Protects the jawbone – The open
space in the mouth brought about by a missing tooth places your jawbone at risk
for deterioration. Implants preserve natural bone growth to prevent bone loss.
·
No staining on teeth – Unlike
bridges, implants stand on their own without putting strain on the other teeth.
Thus, the surrounding teeth is protected.
Cons of Dental Implants
·
Surgery is required – Because
the implants needs to be attached to the bone, surgery is required, which
carries with it some risks including infection jaw fractures, nerve damage and
more.
·
Healing time is long – Getting
tooth implants require numerous office visits. Bones heal slowly, so the whole
procedure can take months.
·
Can be expensive – The cost varies
depending on the kind of implant and tooth issue condition, but its high cost
usually deters people from getting tooth implants.
As its name suggest, a dental bridge
bridges the gap between one or more missing teeth. The bridge is supported by
implants or natural teeth on either side. It is composed of two or more crowns
for each part of the gap. The anchoring teeth are referred to as the abutment
teeth, while the false teeth in between are called pontics.
Pros of Dental Bridges
·
Simple procedure – Bridges do
not require surgery, unlike dental implants, so they are less painful. A simple
dental procedure is enough to fix your teeth.
·
Faster process – It is quicker
and easier to get bridges, usually taking a few weeks at most.
·
Affordable – Although they are
generally more affordable compared to implants, they are still strong and
supportive for the mouth.
Cons of Dental Bridges
·
Less aesthetically pleasing – Because
they are not as natural-looking compared to dental implants, bridges are not as
aesthetically-pleasing.
·
Periodic replacement – Dental
bridges need to be replaced after a few years, after about 5 to 7 years.
·
Damage natural teeth – Adjacent
teeth will have to go through some amount of preparation, which requires the
removal of some of their tooth structure.
The choice that will work best for you will
highly depend on your unique situation. It helps that you work with your dentist and
look into your state of oral health, basic finances and access to dental care
to help you determine the right choice for you.
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