Dental Implants vs. Bridges: Which is Right for You?
When it comes to replacing missing teeth, dental implants and bridges are two common options. Understanding their differences can help you make an informed decision. In this blog, we talk about those differences.
First here are the pros and cons of each procedure
Dental Implants
Pros:
Maintenance and Longevity: Implants and implant crowns can’t get cavities. They are also usually separate from adjacent teeth, allowing patients to easily floss and maintain the health of the gums. This generally results in dental implants lasting a longer time compared to dental bridges. They still require regular maintenance to keep them for a long time.
Jaw Bone Health: If there’s no pressure placed onto areas of the jaw bone, they tend to result in bone loss in those areas. This is because there are signalling pathways in the body that promote bone growth or bone loss. By placing an implant and implant crown, the body keeps these signalling pathways active reducing the likelihood that bone loss will occur.
Cons:
Cost: Typically implants are more expensive compared to dental bridges. If you think about long term health though, in most cases implants provide higher value of benefits compared to dental bridges.
Time: Because implants are limited by the rate at which bone heals naturally, it generally takes a longer time for implants to be placed and restored with an implant crown. For most healthy patients, the time for bone to heal is around 3-4 months.
Surgery: Implant placement is a surgical procedure and often requires the dentist to open a flap of the gums to visualize the placement of the implant. Although many patients are hesitant about surgery, it’s often not as bad as it sounds.
Dental Bridges
Pros:
Time: Bridges don’t have to wait for the bone to heal to complete the procedure. This results in the bridges being able to be completed a lot faster than implants. Bridges are usually done right after a tooth is removed or extracted. For most cases, we want to wait until the gum closes up which is generally about 2-4 weeks for most healthy patients. After that the bridge can be done right away.
Cost-Effective: Bridges are generally cheaper than implants but are still expensive as custom dental porcelain or ceramic work is needed from a certified dental technician.
Cons:
Maintenance: The most common way that a dental bridge fails is due to recurrent cavities forming where dental porcelain meets the teeth. Because bridges are stuck together, patients are unable to floss from the biting surface to the gums and have to use specialized tools such as a waterpik or a floss threader, to clean out the food that can gather underneath the bridge. Patients often get frustrated and have a hard time maintaining these areas which ultimately often results in recurrent cavities.
Affects Adjacent Teeth: Dental bridges use adjacent teeth to anchor the dental porcelain to mimic the ability and function of a missing tooth. Even if the adjacent teeth have no cavities or issues that require cutting into the tooth with a dental drill, dentists still need to remove tooth structure to make room for dental bridge to sit on. This can result in invasive procedures that are not necessary for these teeth.
Terminal Tooth: Because dental bridges require a tooth on either side of a missing tooth space, they require an end tooth or also known as a terminal tooth. If a tooth that needs to be removed is the last tooth in the back of a patient’s mouth, it won’t be possible to place a dental bridge.
Which is Right for You?
There are limitations for each type of procedure and choosing between implants and bridges depends on various factors, including:
Overall Health: Dental implants require healthy gums and enough jaw bone to support the placement of an implant.
Budget: Bridges are generally less expensive initially but may incur more costs over time.
Time: Those who are in a rush to replace missing teeth might opt for the bridge option as it can be done much faster compared to an implant.
Long-Term Goals: Implants generally last longer and is easier to maintain compared to that of a dental bridge.
Conclusion
Both dental implants and bridges have their benefits and drawbacks. Consult with your dentist to determine which option best suits your needs. For personalized advice and expert care, visit us at Carlton Dental.
