A missing or damaged tooth can adversely impact your confidence. If you are missing one or more consecutive teeth, your replacement options include dental bridges and dental implants. But, how do you decide which choice is right for you?
Learn the pros and cons of a tooth bridge vs. implant and the factors that you should consider when making your decision.
Dental Implant Pros and Cons
A dental implant consists of a titanium post placed in your jaw, an abutment that connects the post to the crown, and the crown. Some of the pros of dental implants include:
Permanent restoration
The implant post is permanent. Dental implants have a 95% success rate over 10 years, making them an excellent long-term tooth replacement option.
Aesthetically pleasing
A dental implant offers the most natural-looking option. The restoration is custom made to fit the contours of your teeth and gums and colour matched to your natural teeth.
Prevents bone loss
The dental implant procedure places the post in your tooth socket, and your bone fuses to it. When you start using the implant, the post acts as a tooth root on the jaw, keeping it from resorbing.
Saves healthy teeth from modification
Dental implants don’t require any modification to surrounding teeth.
Long-term value
When deciding between a tooth bridge vs. implant, you need to consider the initial cost, replacement cost, and long term oral health. Dental implants have an advantage over dental bridges in terms of the total cost. Implant crowns can last between 15 and 20 years before they need to be replaced.
Higher success rate in anterior teeth
For restoration of front teeth, implants provide better long-term results than bridges.
However, dental implants do have some drawbacks that include:
High initial cost
The cost of replacing a single tooth is comparable to a bridge, but when you need to replace multiple teeth, dental implant costs increase dramatically.
Lengthy procedure
Getting a dental implant involves several procedures and can take between 6 and 12 months. You may also need procedures to prepare your jaw for implants, like a bone graft, which increases the overall treatment time.
Potential complications
While the long-term success rate is very high, any surgery involves risk. Infection and peri-implantitis are the two biggest risks for dental implants.
When considering a dental bridge vs. implant, you need to weigh the pros and cons of both types of prostheses.
Dental Bridge Pros and Cons
Your dentist builds a dental bridge by preparing the teeth on either side to receive crowns and attaching the two crowns to a pontic or replacement tooth. Some of the pros include:
Faster process
Getting a bridge only requires two visits, approximately two weeks apart. During the first visit, your dentist prepares the tooth and takes a dental impression. On the second visit, your bridge is cemented in place.
Non-invasive
Dental bridges don’t require any incisions, so recovery is faster.
Lower initial cost
Bridges have a lower initial cost, especially if you need to replace more than one tooth.
However, dental bridges have several disadvantages, including:
Needs more frequent replacement
While the crown on a dental implant may need to be replaced after 10 or 15 years, dental bridges may require replacement after 5 to 7 years.
Loses natural look over time
Bridges lose their lustre over time and more quickly than implants do.
More cavities in surrounding teeth
The remaining tooth structure under the crowns of a bridge may suffer tooth decay and cause the bridge to loosen over time.
Requires modification of healthy teeth
The healthy teeth on either end of the gap are shaped to receive the crowns and place a bridge.
Tooth Bridge vs. Implant: The Verdict
You have several factors to weigh when deciding between a dental bridge vs. implant, including looks, function, replacement, cost, and satisfaction. Contact Total Care Dental Studio online or at (07) 3186 8517 for your evaluation. We are happy to answer all your tooth bridge vs. implant questions.
We provide a range of services tailored to your needs. We have state-of-the-art technology in our family-friendly practice. We keep up to date on the newest techniques and technology through continuing education to ensure we provide high-quality care to our patients in the Waterford Community.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
What’s Better: A Dental Implant or a Bridge?
https://www.healthline.com/health/implant-vs-bridge
Single implant and crown versus fixed partial denture: A cost-benefit, patient-centred analysis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27314112/
An Up-to-15-Year Comparison of the Survival and Complication Burden of Three-Unit Tooth-Supported Fixed Dental Prostheses and Implant-Supported Single Crowns
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26252025/
Cost-effectiveness of anterior implants versus fixed dental prostheses
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24158338/
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