Dental Implant vs Dental Bridge
Loss of a single tooth can be caused as a result of an accident, injury or neglect and the result is unpleasant: difficulty chewing and damage to the aesthetic appearance of your smile. In such a situation, dentistry offers two main solutions: restoration using a bridge or dental implants. It is important to emphasize that these solutions are intended for the case of complete loss of the tooth, and not for minor damage, which can be repaired by assembling a crown, coating the tooth or completing it.
If you are missing a tooth or many teeth, it is important to speak with your dentist about all your options. Please also make sure that you talk about your complete medical history with your dentist, as this might have an impact on the final solution that is ultimately chosen. You also must take cost into consideration, as costs can vary wildly depending on your plan of care. For example, if you want an implant and your dentist determines that before you get an implant, you will need a bone graft to support the implant, that will add extra time and cost to your overall plan.
Rehabilitation using a bridge
The dental bridge is actually three crowns connected to each other and its purpose is to fill the space created as a result of tooth loss. In order to assemble the crown, it is necessary to file down or sharpen the teeth on both sides of the space - these are the teeth known as "supporting teeth". After sharpening, the bridge will be worn over the two supporting teeth, and the space left behind by the missing tooth will be filled. The therapeutic process of bridge fitting requires a number of sessions during which the supporting teeth will be sharpened, the dentist will take a coin to fit the bridge to the patient's mouth, color adjustment will be performed, and finally, the bridge will be glued regularly.
Advantages of the bridge:
- Quick and easy procedure.
- The bridge can complete two or more missing teeth (if there are quality supporting teeth).
Disadvantage of rehabilitation using a bridge:
- Grinding healthy teeth (in case the adjacent teeth are healthy).
- This is not suitable if you have many missing teeth in a row.
Rehabilitation using an implant
An implant is a screw made of a titanium alloy and after its implantation in the jaw bone it is used as an artificial root. On the foundation post of the implant, a crown can be assembled, thus restoring the ability to chew and the aesthetic and natural appearance of your smile. The implants that are in the jawbone encourage the building of the bone and thus improve the condition and grip of the adjacent teeth. Medically, an implant is a better solution than a bridge, however its price is higher.
Advantages of an implant:
- Improving the condition of the jawbone.
- Positive effect on adjacent teeth and gums.
- The implant has a longer lifespan compared to a bridge.
- Implantation also provides a solution to the shortage of two or more teeth.
Disadvantages of an implant:
- More expensive compared to a bridge.
- Can take longer than a bridge to completely heal and restore your smile.
