There are many different reasons why you may have lost a tooth. Accidents, periodontitis, and age are all ways that people lose teeth. When you lose a tooth, it can be a traumatic experience and you may not know what to do next. Usually, if the tooth is still alive after being knocked out it can be replanted. However, if the tooth fell out due to periodontitis or age, it is unlikely that it will be able to be replanted. This is why dental implants and dental bridges exist. Continue reading to discover which is better: dental implants vs. dental bridges.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are drilled directly into the jawbone and are made of metal. They are little titanium screws that dentures and dental bridges can be fastened to. Dental implants not only support dentures and dental bridges but are often used to support the tissues in the jaw and the bone. Dental implants act as artificial tooth roots.
What Are Dental Bridges?
Dental bridges are false teeth that are secured to the natural teeth next to them or to dental implants in order to allow a person to eat, speak and smile normally. Usually dental bridges are made of plastic, metal, or porcelain and are used as replacements for missing teeth. Bridges are individually fabricated to match the color of your teeth and the shape of your mouth.
What Is The Difference Between Dental Implants Vs. Dental Bridges?
The biggest difference between dental bridges and dental implants is that dental bridges are fastened to the teeth adjacent to them or to dental implants and dental implants are drilled into the bone and fake teeth are placed on top of them. If you are missing a tooth and are considered dental bridges or dental implants, there are a few more things to consider.
Dental Implants Vs. Dental Bridges
Pros and Cons Of Dental Implants
Dental implants end up looking very natural for the longest time of any tooth replacement option. Also, the implant itself often lasts for the entirety of someone’s life. The fake tooth atop the dental implant typically needs to be replaced every 10-15 years. Dental implants also can have higher upfront costs, but may be cheaper in the long run. Lastly, dental implants only affect the spot where they are embedded. Dental implants are the recommended option by our office due to their long-lasting quality.
A more difficult consideration with dental implants is that they require more surgery and bone grafting. Bone grafting is a surgical process of removing or replacing bone with other bone that typically is to repair a fracture, but is often used for dental implants in order for them to act as tooth roots. Dental implants also take anywhere from 4-8 months to recover from and may take more time depending on how many surgeries are required for your case.
Pros and Cons Of Dental Bridges
Dental bridges are overall less invasive. They do not require bone grafting and are typically less expensive to begin with. They are also a great choice for people who have lost multiple teeth. Dental bridges are cemented to teeth, and last about 5-10 years. It also typically only takes a short amount of time for dental bridges to be implemented and the recovery process is very different from that of dental implants. It does not hurt to get dental bridges because they do not require surgery and it only takes a week or two for eating to feel normal again.
While there are many good things about dental bridges, there are also some issues. One being that they can cause damage to other teeth. Because dental bridges are secured to other teeth, they can cause cavities and decay to the healthy teeth that are surrounding the bridge. Dental bridges also need to be replaced more frequently than dental implants and look much less natural over time.
Need A Professional’s Opinion?
Here at Sunset Dental, we have many experienced individuals who would be happy to give you a professional opinion of whether you should get dental implants vs. dental bridges. We offer top-tier services that are available to help you secure the very best smile that you can. Contact us today for more information.