A Quick Comparison of Dental Bridges and Implants for Missing Teeth

Dental bridges and implants are two common options for replacing missing teeth. Both have pros and cons, and the best treatment for you will depend on your situation.

Your first step is to consult with a qualified dentist, like Markham family dentistry, so they will assess your overall oral condition and help you make the best decision for your needs.

What Are Dental Bridges?

Dental bridges are dental prosthetic devices used to replace one or more missing teeth by bridging the gap between natural teeth. A bridge comprises two or more crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap (abutment teeth) and a false tooth/teeth in between. Either natural teeth or implants can support bridges.

Typically, your treatment time can be completed in two visits, two weeks apart. At your first visit, the abutment teeth are prepared, and molds or digital images are taken of your teeth. These impressions or images will be used to create your custom bridge.

The bridge is checked for fit at your second appointment and cemented into place. Once in place, it can only be removed by a dentist.

Benefits of Dental Bridges

Here are the advantages of this dental procedure:

• Dental bridges are less expensive than dental implants.
• The procedure to place a bridge is usually quicker and less invasive than an implant.
• You don’t need additional procedures, such as a sinus lift or bone graft, which may be necessary with implants.

Drawbacks of Dental Bridges

There are also some disadvantages of dental bridges. These include:

• They may require the reduction of healthy adjacent teeth (the abutment teeth) for placement.
• The bridge relies on the healthy adjacent teeth for support, so if these supporting teeth decay or are lost, the entire bridge may need to be replaced.
• Dental bridges usually have a lifespan of about 5 to 7 years and may need to be replaced or adjusted from time to time.
• They don’t help preserve bone loss like implants.

What Are Dental Implants?

These are small metal posts surgically placed into the jawbone to act as artificial tooth roots. When the implants have bonded with the jawbone, they can support a dental prosthetic, such as a crown, bridge, or denture.

Getting an implant takes eight months or more to finish. This is because you need time for the implant to fuse with your jawbone. The first step is having the implant placed in your jawbone. Once the area has healed, usually three months later, an abutment (a small connector post) is placed on top of the implant.

Then, impressions or digital images are taken of your teeth so that a custom dental prosthetic can be made. Read more about dental implants here.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants offer many benefits, such as:

• They don’t require the reduction of healthy adjacent teeth like bridges do.
• Implants don’t rely on other teeth for support and are therefore not affected if these adjacent teeth decay or are lost.
• Implants help preserve bone loss.
• Their lifespan can be up to 25 years or more with proper care.

Drawbacks of Dental Implants

However, dental implants also have some drawbacks, such as:

• They’re the most expensive treatment option.
• The surgery to place them is more invasive than other treatments.
• You may need additional procedures, like a sinus lift or bone graft, which can add to the cost and treatment time.
• You must have an adequate healthy bone to support an implant, which may not be the case if you’ve had missing teeth for a long time or have certain medical conditions.
• The entire process takes several months to complete.
• There are many restrictions while the implant is fusing with the bone.

The Bottom Line

Dental implants and bridges are two popular treatment options for missing teeth. Both have advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to discuss your options with your dentist to decide the best treatment for you. Depending on your individual needs, they may also recommend other treatments, such as dental cosmetic procedures. Visit this page for more information.