Dental Implants VS Dental Bridge

As dentistry has advanced, teeth replacement options have increased. While it is not ideal to have to remove a tooth, the options to restore your smile to a full, gap-free grin are more abundant than ever. When you are discussing your options with your dentist, there are important factors that will help you land on the best treatment plan.

Practical Reasons for Both

A dayton dental bridge placement requires removing the enamel of the adjacent teeth for a crown placement. Dental implants allow the dentist to focus only on the missing tooth and ensure a stronger and more durable replacement tooth. A dental implant is not always the best choice, especially if the neighboring teeth need dental work to repair decay or damage. If you have had a missing tooth for a long time, often the gum tissue and the jaw bone will show signs of wear.

Before a dentist can replace the long time missing tooth with a dental implant, the dentist may need to graft more jaw bone, gum tissue or both before any part of the implant process can start.

Only you and your dentist can review your dental history, your medical history, your current medications, your allergies, your expectations and your lifestyle to determine which option is best for you and your health.

Changes in Your Oral Care Routine

When you replace your missing tooth with a dental bridge, you will need to adjust your at home dental care. At least three teeth will be connected to each other so you will need to learn a new flossing technique. Extra care will have to be incorporated into your routine to ensure that your gums are healthy and the teeth supporting the crowns are free from decay and further damage.

If you replace your missing tooth with a dental implant, you will have an easier time keeping your at home care program nearly the same. You should not have to adjust brushing or flossing to accommodate your implant.

Durability

Dental bridges are not as durable as dental implants; dental implants can last a lifetime. That’s even better than your natural teeth! The dental implant is set in place with a titanium rod that fuses to your jaw bone. The titanium is resilient and does not easily decay or cause gum issues. Most dental bridges last about 10 years depending on the location in your mouth and the care you take of the crown abutments. The natural tooth under the crowns will need care and may cause the bridge to loosen or break.

Aesthetics

You and your dentist will need to review examples of work and look at the placement of false tooth to determine which is a better option for you. Most of the time, people prefer the more natural look of the implant, but it is not always a viable option for your situation.

Dental Bridge vs. Implant Cost

Initially, a dental bridge will cost less, but it is not designed to last as long as the implant. The implant will only need to be addressed once, but the bridge will need to be replaced over time. Your dental insurance plan may cover some or all of the procedures for an implant, so be sure to check with your coverage before letting cost deter you. Additionally, with dental implants requiring months to a year to complete, you have time between appointments to spread the payments out over time.

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