Bridges and dental implants are also viable choices for replacing missing teeth. These are two frequent gap-filling strategies. However, they are not interchangeable. Each option has benefits and drawbacks, and knowing them can help you make the best choice.
The teeth secure a bridge on either side of the gap. False teeth are anchored by crowns cemented onto the supporting teeth. Discuss your best course of action with general dentistry in Burlingame, CA.
Bridges
In comparison to receiving dental implants, acquiring a dental bridge is a speedier and less intrusive procedure. Patients without enough jawbone are nonetheless good candidates for this treatment. It is also less expensive than getting an implant.
When missing teeth are bridged in, the surrounding teeth are protected from shifting. A bridge is an artificial tooth or teeth used to fill the gap created by lost teeth. This allows the patient to eat, speak, and chew normally again. It helps retain the face’s youthful contours by reviving the smile and stopping the muscles from sagging.
Cons
The enamel on the abutment teeth must be filed down in order to accommodate the crowns, which is a permanent modification. Although the life expectancy of a bridge is 5-15 years, depending on oral cleanliness, it does not last as long as implants.
Dental prosthetics
Because implants replace both the tooth and its root, they are the most effective solution for replacing a missing tooth. A titanium implant rod is surgically implanted into the jaw, and a crown is then cemented into place on top. This treatment can be used to replace a single tooth or an entire arch.
Pros
One of the advantages of dental implants is that they are incredibly secure because of the implantation into the bone. This also reduces bone loss. Unlike bridges, neighboring teeth do not need to be changed in any manner to insert implants. In the same way that bridges do, implants can do wonders for a person’s self-esteem. The difference is that these replacement teeth look and work more like real ones.
When compared to bridges, implants last considerably longer. If taken care of, this approach should last forever.
Cons
It’s important to note that not everyone can get dental implants. The patient’s jaw must have enough bone to implode the rod. If not, the patient will likely require bone grafting, which will lengthen the treatment process. For this reason, implants are not an option for those with certain health issues.