A missing tooth may affect more than just the appearance of your smile. It could also impact your chewing ability, speech, and alignment of your remaining teeth. Dental implants and bridges are some of the most effective restorative options, each with unique considerations and benefits. However, choosing between the two should be based on your oral health, preferences, and needs. In this blog post, you will learn the essential considerations before deciding on your preferred and informed choice.
Definition of Dental Bridges
A bridge is a replacement tooth, or pontic, supported by one or more abutment teeth. Your dentist can make a bridge from various dental materials, including silver, porcelain-fused metals, and gold. Porcelain is the most popular option since it resembles and blends with a person’s natural teeth.
Pros of Bridges
Advantages of bridges include the following:
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Does not require bone grafting or invasive surgery
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Usually has lower upfront costs than dental implants
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Typically requires only two dental appointments spread over several weeks
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Can enhance your smile, facial appearance, and confidence in a short duration
Drawbacks of Dental Bridges
Disadvantages of bridges include the following:
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The lifespan of bridges is relatively short, lasting on average five to 15 years when properly taken care of.
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Requires the preparation of nearby teeth with dental crowns to reinforce the bridge
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It can be challenging to clean teeth around the bridges and the underlying tissues, resulting in plaque and tartar accumulation that can cause cavities and gum inflammation.
Understanding the Dental Bridges Procedure
Obtaining a bridge requires a couple of dental visits, and the process entails the following:
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Preparation of the abutment tooth — The preparation consists of reshaping these teeth by extracting a part of the enamel to create room for the crown that the dentist will fit over them.
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Next, your dentist will take impressions of your teeth and send them to a dental lab where a technician will design the bridge.
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Temporary bridge — The dental practitioner will craft and fit a temporary dental bridge to safeguard your exposed gums and tooth or teeth as you wait for the technician to create your permanent bridge.
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Fitting the dental bridge — Next, the dentist will remove the temporary bridge and fit the permanent bridge. They will also inspect and adjust the bridge until it fits correctly.
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Finally, they will cement the bridge.
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Follow-up appointments — During the dental visits, the dentist will evaluate your bite and whether the bridge is well-fitted.
Defining a Dental Implant
Dentists use an implant, which is a metal screw, as a replacement for the root of your missing tooth. Dentists fix the implant to the jawbone where the missing tooth's roots were. The dental implant is mainly crafted from titanium.
Pros of Implants
The advantages of implants include the following:
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Retains natural teeth’s appearance —The dental implant design depends on the shape and size of your tooth, making it look natural.
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Durable — With proper implant care, implants are long-lasting. They can last for fifteen years or even a lifetime.
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Bone health preservation — Implants halt jawbone loss. When you lose a tooth, you experience insufficient jaw stimulation, which could result in bone deterioration. Dental implants replace your tooth root, stimulating your jawbone whenever you chew and halting bone resorption.
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Prevents facial sagging — With time, bone loss from missing teeth results in a sunken facial appearance, which dental implants may help prevent. In other words, implants preserve your natural facial shape by maintaining your jawbone’s integrity.
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Improved dental health hygiene — Since implants work like natural teeth, they do not present cleaning difficulties. Proper oral hygiene reduces the risk of developing gum disease or tooth decay.
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Versatility — Implants may replace one tooth, several teeth, or a whole set. You can also use dental implants with other oral prosthetics for added stability.
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Long-term cost efficiency — While the upfront cost of dental implants might be more than bridges, their durability makes them more cost-effective in the long term since they might not need replacement or repairs.
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Enhanced chewing and speaking — Since implants are anchored firmly in your jawbone, they offer better chewing efficiency and clearer speech than other tooth replacement options.
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It does not affect nearby teeth — Implants stand alone and do not rely on surrounding teeth for support. In contrast, dentists remove some enamel from the nearby teeth before placing traditional dental bridges to accommodate a crown that supports the bridge. This might compromise their structural integrity.
Cons of Implants
Disadvantages of implants are as follows:
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Higher upfront costs — Implants cost more compared to bridges.
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Implants are not ideal for everyone — Inadequate jawbone or certain medical conditions can disqualify some individuals from receiving dental implants without additional surgical procedures like bone grafting.
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Surgical procedure and recovery time — Dental implant placement needs one or more surgical procedures. The treatment procedure requires healing and osseointegration, which can take a few months.
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Potential side effects — Although rare, there is potential for side effects, like infection, nerve damage, implant failure, or sinus challenges.
What to Expect During an Implant Procedure
A dentist who developed your treatment plan can perform your implant procedure. Your doctor can perform the implant procedure over several months.
The dental procedure begins with X-rays and scans to provide the dental practitioner with a clear indication of where to fix the implant.
After administering local anaesthesia to relieve pain, the dentist will place the implant into the jawbone in a minor dental operation. It may take about six months for the implant to fuse with the surrounding bone (osseointegration), establishing a firm foundation for the artificial tooth. Routine dental appointments ensure proper healing.
After osseointegration, the dentist secures an abutment to the dental implant. Next, they will attach a crown to the abutment, restoring your tooth’s function and appearance, enabling you to eat and speak normally.
You should adhere to your dentist’s aftercare instructions after the treatment. Maintaining proper dental hygiene increases the success rate of your implant. You should also visit your dentist regularly for dental cleaning and monitoring to ensure the implant remains in optimal condition.
Cost of Implants and Bridges
Cost is a significant factor you must evaluate when considering replacing your missing tooth. Bridges are more cost-effective than implants. Bridges can cost between $4,100 and $9,650, depending on various factors, while dental implants typically range from $3,698 to $6,159 per tooth.
Nevertheless, each patient’s treatment plan requires a unique approach, and each plan is customized depending on the patient’s needs, with several factors impacting the total cost. Factors influencing the total treatment cost are as follows:
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Your dentist’s location
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Type of implant or bridge
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Brand and material used
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Your dental health case’s complexity or severity
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The number of teeth that need replacement
Whether Dental Insurance Covers the Bridges and Implant Procedures
Most dental insurance policies cover both bridges and dental implants.
Dental insurance benefits are not standard in most full coverage plans, so you should find the best plan for you. Finding a plan that covers your procedures will enable you to cover a percentage of the total cost. Additionally, you must meet requirements like dental deductible, lifetime maximum, and waiting period.
Consulting your insurance provider before beginning treatment will help you understand the following better:
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Annual limits
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Deductibles
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Copay
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Coinsurance
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Premium
Durability and Longevity
Bridges typically last 5 to 7 years, but with excellent oral hygiene and regular dental visits, they can last over 10 years. However, they may require an adjustment or replacement over time due to wear and tear.
In contrast, dental implants could last 10 to 30 years, and in most cases, they can last a lifetime with proper maintenance. Since the implants’ poles are made of titanium, they can last a lifetime with the proper care, making them more durable than bridges.
Preserving Your Adjacent Teeth
Bridges need enamel reduction of two or more surrounding teeth to create space for crowns that support your bridge. Enamel reduction is irreversible and affects the structure of the nearby teeth.
On the other hand, implants enable you to preserve nearby teeth because they do not rely on support from nearby teeth. Implants function as artificial roots fixed directly into your jawbone, providing a firmer foundation for the prosthesis than bridges can offer.
Accessibility and Availability of Services
Bridges are more available than implants. Traditional bridges need fewer materials than dental implants; dentists can complete the treatment in only two visits. Since the treatment requires no surgery, more dental professionals offer dental bridge treatment services than implant services.
While dental implants are not as commonly available as bridges, they offer a more long-lasting solution.
Bone Loss
If you have a missing tooth, the nearby jawbone will shrink due to the absence of stimulation from biting or chewing. It is also called atrophic jawbone or bone resorption. Bone loss could alter your mouth’s appearance by applying pressure to the remaining teeth, resulting in a shift. You may experience gum recession or a sunken facial appearance.
Bridges cannot prevent loss; they cover the spaces or gaps and rest above your gum line, resulting in bone resorption.
Unlike dental implants, bridges cannot merge into your jawbone. Therefore, they offer minimal protection against loss of bone following a placement.
On the other hand, implants provide better stability because they fuse into your jawbone. Dental implants are the best replacement for a missing tooth, designed to promote bone growth and prevent loss of the jawbone.
Overall Health and Medical Conditions
Implants need surgery, so they might not be an option for individuals with medical conditions that slow down healing, like leukemia or diabetes. You are an ideal candidate for implants if you have optimal overall health and a healthy jawbone that can support the dental implant.
Lifestyle habits, including smoking, could impact the implants' success. Therefore, a comprehensive health assessment is crucial to decide implant eligibility.
Bridges can be the proper option for patients with specific health concerns, particularly those associated with oral hygiene and tooth loss.
To determine the most suitable treatment method for you, your dentist will conduct a comprehensive medical review that involves the following:
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Assessing your recovery capacity and bone density
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Evaluating your immune function and overall health
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Considering the effect of chronic disease on your treatment success
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Discussing how lifestyle habits influence your oral health
Health of Your Adjacent Teeth
If the teeth surrounding your gap are healthy, you should consider an implant to preserve the teeth’s integrity. Nevertheless, dental bridges are the solution if your nearby teeth require crowns or have huge fillings.
Aesthetic Results
While dental bridges and implants provide distinct aesthetic results, each has unique benefits. Implants offer a natural-looking prosthesis that resembles the natural teeth, making them indistinguishable from your natural dentition. On the other hand, bridges can sometimes show a visible line where your prosthetic meets your gum.
Non-Surgical vs. Surgical Procedures
Implants involve surgery, requiring specialized training acquired in dental school. On the contrary, dental bridge treatment is non-surgical and depends on existing teeth for support. Your dentist should consider your oral anatomy and jaw structure before recommending any option.
Post-treatment care differs considerably; with bridges, you must focus on proper cleaning with dental floss, while implants require vigilance about infections. Both procedures require long-term surveillance for optimal dental health.
Time Required for Each Dental Procedure
Dental bridge treatment typically involves two dental appointments over a few weeks, making it a quicker treatment option.
Implants may require multiple processes, including extraction, bone grafting, sinus lift, and implant placement. These surgical procedures can require several dental visits over a six-month duration. Following the surgery, you will wait for osseointegration, where the dental implant pole fuses with your jawbone. The healing period could take 3 to 6 months before your dentist can fix the final prosthesis on top of the implant.
Please note that the time required to complete either procedure varies depending on certain factors that could impact recovery after the treatment’s completion.
Find a Knowledgeable Restorative Dentist Near Me
Choosing between dental bridges and implants is a vital decision that significantly affects your quality of life and oral health. You should decide between dental implants and bridges after consulting your dentist. Lasting Impressions Dental Spa can assess your dental health, discuss your lifestyle, budget, and preferences, and recommend the most effective option. We can also ensure you understand the advantages and disadvantages of each to assist you in making a wise decision towards realizing a confident, beautiful, and healthy smile. Please call our Encino dental office at 818-751-5100 to schedule your initial consultation.
