What’s better: a dental implant or a bridge? – Part 3/3 – Kanata implant crown Dunrobin

What’s better: a dental implant or a bridge?

Keywords: denture, missing teeth, best option for missing teeth, loose dentures, best replacement for missing tooth, dental implant, implant crown, implant bridge, implant denture, implant tooth

In the third part of this dental implant blog series, we will cover in more detail which option is more advisable and why, how to choose between an implant or a bridge, and other options to consider. First part here. Second part here.

The most important thing you can do to ensure you find the right treatment for your missing tooth is to talk to your dentist about what options may be right for you. Your trusted dentist can carefully weigh all of the specific considerations of your situation to make the right recommendation for you.

How to choose between an implant and a bridge?

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A dentist can advise you about the best tooth replacement for your situation. The best option for you depends on how many teeth you are missing, your overall health, and your budget.

Investment

The cost of a dental bridge is usually lower at first, but it may need to be replaced in the future. Implants, from preparation to final placement, may seem more expensive, but over time they can be more cost-effective. Fortunately, many dental insurance providers pay for a portion of, or all of, the steps involved. In addition, implant treatment can be more flexible, allowing patients to budget the cost in stages. After extraction, for example, a bone graft is sometimes needed. This graft typically has to heal for several months before implant placement, at which point osseointegration can take anywhere from three to six months before the process is complete.

Practical reasons

In the past, a bridge was often the only choice, and it still involves more than just the missing tooth. The adjacent teeth need to be prepared by removing much of the enamel in order to fabricate the bridge. With dental implants, however, the dentist replaces only the individual tooth for a result that is stronger and permanent. That said, a dental bridge may still be your best option if the neighbouring teeth have large fillings and may need crowns or caps in the future. Also, if the tooth or teeth have been missing for a long time, the gum and bone may have receded and additional procedures may be required before an implant can be placed. The advantages and disadvantages of both procedures should be discussed with your dentist.

Overall health

Dental implants contribute to good dental, oral, and bone health. The jawbone plays a very important role in the procedure because it is needed to support the implants. In some cases, bone loss can be treated with bone grafts. This is often recommended when dental implants would be your best option to help avoid further bone loss.

Dental implants may be a limited option for people with medical conditions that slow down healing, such as diabetes, leukemia, smoking, alcoholism, uncontrolled gum disease, or severe bone loss.

Oral care routine

Your ability to keep your mouth healthy will usually be easier with an implant. Dental bridges are cemented, or fixed, in the mouth and involve at least three crowns connected together to fill the space of the missing tooth. This design creates challenges when brushing and flossing, so extra oral hygiene instruction and meticulous home care are important. When flossing, an additional step is needed to thread the floss under the false tooth. More specialized toothbrushes may also be helpful. In contrast, implants can replace teeth individually without affecting other teeth, making regular home care more manageable. You can brush and floss around an implant much like a natural tooth.

Lifespan

The long lifespan associated with dental implants makes many patients over the age of 40 good candidates for this procedure. Implants may need attention or restoration over time, but they are often expected to last many years. Bridges, while possibly more affordable at first, often need to be replaced every 5 to 7 years, and sometimes may last up to 10 years with proper care and maintenance.

Aesthetics

What about aesthetics? There is not always a simple answer, but your dentist or prosthodontist will be able to advise you. Often, the implant will provide the most pleasing result, as your dentist can make the final tooth look very similar to your natural enamel. Sometimes, an implant can be placed immediately after a tooth extraction, preserving the natural level of bone and improving the final appearance of the dental work.

Other options instead of bridges or implants

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Bridges and implants are not the only options for replacing a lost tooth. Partial dentures and space maintainers may also be used.

Partial dentures

Partial dentures are usually made of plastic and metal. They fill gaps caused by one or several missing teeth.

Partial dentures often resemble your natural teeth and clip to your healthy teeth to stay in place. A dentist may recommend a denture when the teeth surrounding your missing tooth are not healthy enough to support a bridge.

Although they are generally cheaper than bridges or implants, they usually are not as comfortable or stable because they are removable appliances. They may also interfere with eating or speaking and need to be cleaned often.

Space maintainers

Space maintainers may be an option if you cannot afford to replace your tooth right away. They are usually built from metal pieces that prevent the teeth on either side of your missing tooth from shifting. These are commonly used in children to allow adult teeth to emerge unobstructed, or to keep the space of missing teeth open. This helps keep the surrounding teeth from tipping into the space, but it does not prevent bone loss.

Your dentist will want to provide you with the right solution that is as conservative as possible while still providing years of continued use. https://marchwooddental.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/movedo-freelancer-feature-03-scaled-1-3.jpg Kanata can help you address missing teeth and develop a treatment plan that is tailored to your needs. Schedule an appointment with an experienced dentist today.

In our next article following this series, we will cover situations when an implant is recommended and what to expect from the procedure. See you in the next article.

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Contact us and schedule your appointment at https://marchwooddental.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/movedo-freelancer-feature-03-scaled-1-3.jpg Clinic, serving Kanata, Dunrobin, Carleton Place, Almonte, Carp, and all of West Ottawa today. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more information.