In Observance of the Holiday, Admire Dental Bristol will be closed on 24th and 25th December.
Why Would You need A Dental Bridge over Dental Implant?
Losing a tooth or teeth can have a serious impact on your smile and teeth functionality. For some people, this is usually a serious mark on their self-esteem and confidence. For this reason, modern day dentistry has developed tooth bridges and implants to solve this defect.
These two forms of restoration are effective in replacing lost teeth at Admire Dental Bristol. Various patients however have preferences when it comes to how they want their teeth replaced. While some prefer dental bridges for replacing their teeth, other people prefer permanent tooth implants since they are stronger and long lasting.
We will be putting into comparison these two forms of prosthesis which address similar challenges, to help you determine what’s best for you in case you need a tooth replaced.
Dental Bridges in Bristol, CT
A false tooth, also known as ‘pontic’ has artificial crowns attached on either side, then fitted on the adjacent teeth. If no adjacent healthy teeth are available, the false crowns can be attached to a dental implant for support.
If you have a severely damaged tooth too, your Bristol dentist might carry out an extraction and replace the space with a dental bridge to restore your smile.
Some of the advantages dental bridges present include:
- They are small, lightweight and easy to use
- The shape of your face is preserved
- Tooth bridges enhance stability of the adjacent teeth on which they are attached preventing misalignment
- It’s easier and faster to get used and comfortable to your new dental bridge
- Biting force is better distributed by replacing a missing tooth
- Your speech and chewing ability is restored
There are however certain drawbacks linked to teeth bridges. The healthy abutment teeth holding the pontic in place might get damaged if the bridge was not fitted well. If the false crowns are loose and allow plaque and bacteria inside the prosthesis, dental decay might occur.
Additionally, there is possibility of change of structure of teeth on which the fixed bridge is attached. The abutment supporting teeth may also lack the required strength to support your bridge which later collapses.
Again if the support crowns collapse, then the whole bridge is compromised and needs to be changed.
A lot of tooth preparation is involved when installing a fixed bridge. This is especially not good for young teeth as it could easily permanently damage them. It would necessitate a root canal therapy in the future, and no one wants that for their kid!
Dental Implants
This is another innovative form of dental restoration where a metal post is implanted into the jawbone and a prosthetic tooth attached as a crown. The post is usually made of a biocompatible titanium material that is very unlikely for the body to reject.
Your dentist must first drill a hole into your jawbone and install the post which protrudes above the jawline. A porcelain crown is then attached on the protruding post. This crown is usually customized to color match your existing tooth.
To complete your healing process, the jawbone is given time to grow around the post. People with low density jawbone are not good candidates for dental implants.
What benefits come with choosing a dental implant?
- Neighboring teeth are not impacted in any way
- Implants are not easily affected by tooth decay or gum diseases
- They have a 98% success rate
- It’s a more discreet solution than other forms of treatment
- Dental implants are meant to last long, up to 20 years
Dental implants, unlike tooth bridges and other forms of treatment, is a really costly treatment. You will spend more if there are several teeth being replaced. They also require more procedures to complete the treatment process. Oral surgery in this case is inevitable.
Why Should You Choose Dental Bridges Over Tooth Implants?
On instances where you have two broken down teeth next to the missing tooth, a dental bridge would be preferable to an implant. This is because those teeth need crowns for extra protection.
Bridges are more flexible when it comes to controlling the color of more than two teeth for a lesser price. If you possess a high smile line you might want to consider a dental bridge – since they perfectly match more than two of your teeth at the same time.
Again, while the process of healing for a dental implant might take up to months to fully heal and the bone to integrate around the post, a typical dental bridge can be installed 2 in just a day or two.
Some patients may not qualify for a dental implant due to some diseases such as cancer and diabetes or if they are on certain medication. Plus, if your overall health is not in check, your dentist might not recommend an implant.
This is not the case with dental bridges. Anyone can have them as no invasive procedures or surgeries are involved. To get a better understanding visit our dental clinic Admire Dental Bristol, in Bristol, CT and consult our dentist.