If you’ve just recently lost a tooth, chances are your main priority right now is to first get rid of the pain, then get rid of the tooth remnants, whose presence might seriously endanger the overall health level of your mouth. Only then do you start considering the options you have for replacing that tooth. In essence, you have two options to choose from: you can either get a tooth implant or a fixed bridge. The differences between the two relate to both their form and their function. Choosing one over the other will ultimately be up to you, but it is worth noting that implants are only recommended to people whose teeth are in good shape overall. In any event, it is not a decision to be taken lightly, since the configuration of one’s teeth affects several aspects, from mastication to digestion to psychological well-being and aesthetics. Read on below for answers on common dental implants v bridges questions, then prepare to make your choice.
Dental implants v bridges treatment
In terms of form, i.e., the way an implant looks in comparison with a bridge, the situation is rather balanced. It all depends on the material your dentist uses for reconstructing the outward appearance of your tooth. Implants can be covered in ceramics, while bridges make use of acrylic materials and metal. Naturally, ceramics is best suited for replicating the look of an actual tooth, but the materials used for bridges can also do a good job at making your teeth look natural.
Dental implants v bridges function
The biggest point of contention in choosing an implant over a dental bridge or vice versa is the effect on the other teeth in your mouth. Many dentists who deal in implantology claim that fixed or even removable bridges are outdated, since having them put in requires otherwise healthy teeth located around the gap to be ground down, in order to provide support for the crown of the bridge. While this can be true and sometimes applicable, it is often the case that gaps occur in locations where there is more than one damaged tooth. Bottom line is that if the teeth around the gap are relatively healthy, it is probably a better idea for you to get an implant. By getting a bridge, you run the risk of causing further damage to the other teeth in the same area. Conversely, however, if you have several damaged teeth grouped together, a bridge might prove a substantially more effective and advisable method for dealing with the situation.
Dental implants v bridges cost
Getting an implant involves having a screw driven through your gum. This procedure, which is quite often complex, is continued with ‘coating’ that screw with a material that will make the end product, the final tooth, so to speak, look as natural as possible. Since the technology employed in getting an implant is more recent than the one used for bridges, the costs of this dentistry method also tend to run higher. Once more, the situation varies from case to case. If you have one problem area alone, while the rest of your teeth are in relatively good shape, it is probably wise to invest in an implant now. You will be keeping your natural teeth intact, until age or other factors take their toll on them. Meanwhile, if your mouth is laden with damaged zones, then bridges, the less costly alternative, will prove a wiser investment in the long-run, since you are probably headed to getting dentures at a foreseeable point in the future.
Author Bio
This guest post was written by John Ransmore for Canada Bay Dental Breakfast Point. John is a dental health professional and a freelance writer, who enjoys writing about dentistry techniques. He has contributed to many health-themed websites.
Very Convincing writing; i believe Dental Implants can be used to replace a single lost tooth or many missing teeth. Dental Implants can provide support to a full denture, making it secure which enables you to eat and speak more comfortably and with confidence. A Dental Implant can be thought of as an artificial tooth root that is submerged into the jawbone. Thanks for sharing with us