Individuals that have lost a tooth may be wondering whether their best option for replacing the lost tooth is to get a dental bridge or instead opt for a dental implant. That is a question very often asked by patients and the answer is that it is a very personal decision. However, in order to make that decision easier for you, we will weigh some of the pros and cons of each procedure so you can make a more informed choice about whether a dental implant or dental bridge is right for you.
For starters, dental implants require a minor surgical procedure in which a titanium post is secured into the bone of the jaw to serve as an anchor for a crown that will function and look just like a natural tooth. Once the titanium post or screw is implanted, it must heal over a period of several months before a permanent crown can be placed on it. This allows for the site to fully heal and for all swelling to subside, as well as for the post to secure itself firmly into the bone, before the permanent replacement tooth is attached. In the meantime, while the implant site is healing, a temporary crown can be worn to replace the missing tooth.
In contrast, a dental bridge involves the filing down of the adjacent teeth next to the missing tooth, even though they may be perfectly healthy, so that a crown can be place on top of the adjacent teeth. Then a mold is taken so that crowns for both adjacent teeth (or a single tooth if it is a cantilever bridge) can be manufactured, as well as an additional false tooth that will go in the space where the missing tooth used to be. The new false tooth is held in place by a bridge that attaches the tooth to the crowns that will sit on the adjacent teeth.
So, what are some of the things you need to consider before you decide which option is better for you? Many dentists will agree that as long as you are a candidate for dental implants, it is the preferable option. That is because the titanium implant forms a bond with the bone much in the same way that an actual tooth would do. When this bond ceases to exist, bone loss can occur over time. This can be the case if the patient opts for a dental bridge because no replacement for the bond between tooth and bone exists.
Another factor to consider is the procedure itself. If you are not comfortable with a surgical procedure, then you may be squeamish about having a dental implant. However, if you choose instead to have a bridge put in, you will have to endure having two otherwise healthy teeth filed down so that they can hold a crown. This means that instead of only one tooth being affected, as is the case with an implant, three teeth will be affected just to replace a single missing tooth.
Cost is another factor that many people consider. While it is true that the cost of dental implants is initially higher than the cost of a bridge, it may turn out to be that over time, that differential evens out or even tips in the other favor due to increased dental office visits that may arise due to a broken or cracked bridge or subsequent bone loss in the jaw, which can result in more severe dental issues in the future.
For more information about the benefits and drawbacks of dental bridges and dental implants or to schedule an appointment with a cosmetic dentist to discuss which option is best for you, contact Park Dental Care in Queens at 718-274-1515.
