If you’re missing teeth, you may be curious as to what your options are for replacing those teeth. Dental bridges and implants are two common options for teeth replacement. The question stands, dental implants vs bridges, which is better suited for your smile? Ultimately, your dentist will help you decide which option is better for you, but here we have provided some useful information to know when deciding between dental implants versus a bridge.
Dental Implants vs. Bridges: What’s the Difference?
What Are Dental Implants?
When you get a dental implant, you must undergo oral surgery to have a titanium post secured into your jaw. A few months later, an abutment will be attached to the post, and a dental crown will either be cemented or screwed into it. If you are asking yourself, “Will my implant match my teeth?” the good news is yes, dental implants look and feel just like your natural teeth! They also provide the added benefit of preventing any bone loss in your jaw. Dental implants are still an option for you even if you’ve had periodontal disease or lost teeth as the result of an injury.
What Is a Bridge?
Dental bridges are made up of a false tooth that bridges the gap between missing teeth. The bridge will be placed between two crowns that have been cemented by your dentist onto the healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth. A bridge is a good option for you if you need to replace a tooth or teeth located at the back of your mouth.
Pros and Cons of a Bridge vs. Dental Implants
Both bridges and dental implants come with their own unique benefits and disadvantages. We’ll cover these in this section.
Benefits and Disadvantages of Dental Bridges
The benefits of a dental bridge include being:
- A simple procedure: Getting a dental bridge does not require oral surgery, so the overall process is much easier.
- Quick: Since the process to get dental implants is so much easier, it often takes less than a few weeks.
- Affordable: A bridge is usually cheaper than dental implants. The actual cost will be covered in the next section.
The disadvantages that go along with dental bridges are:
- Need for periodic replacement: A dental bridge needs to be replaced around every 5-10 years.
- Natural teeth get damaged: A mouth bridge is supported by the teeth surrounding it. These teeth must have a considerable amount of the tooth structure removed in order to prepare them to be the support for the bridge. Over time, providing support for the structure of the bridge puts a lot of strain on your natural teeth.
Benefits and Disadvantages of Dental Implants
Dental implants offer several benefits, which include:
- Natural-looking: Dental implants look and feel just like your natural teeth. Thus, you will feel confident flashing them in a smile, and you will still be able to eat everything you normally would once you recover from the surgery.
- The prevention of bone loss: When you have a missing tooth, this puts the jawbone below the missing tooth at risk of deteriorating. The posts used in dental implants provide support for the jaw by stimulating and preserving bone growth. This further prevents deterioration.
- Not straining teeth: As a dental implant gets its support from the titanium post that is secured into your jaw, it does not put any strain on the surrounding teeth.
The disadvantages that go along with dental implants include:
- Oral surgery: Since the implant is attached directly to your jawbone, it will require surgery. With any surgery, there are always risks to consider, and time that must be set aside for your recovery. The risks associated with dental implant surgery include damage to nerves and surrounding teeth, infection, jaw fractures, and more.
- Time: Unfortunately, getting a dental implant is not something that can be achieved in a single visit to your dentist’s office. From beginning to end, the process typically takes four to six months.
Cost of Dental Implants vs. Bridge
Price is always an important consideration when trying to decide on the tooth replacement option that is best for you. Below, we will discuss the difference in cost of dental implants versus a bridge, and whether either is covered by insurance.
How Much Are Dental Implants?
If you want to know if an implant is cheaper than a bridge, the short answer is no. However, when you take into consideration that you must also pay for crowns when you get a bridge.
Insurance could potentially be an option to aid in payment. However, it’s always best to call ahead and ask as it depends on your individual insurance.
How Much Is a Bridge?
Like the price of dental implants, the cost of dental bridges also varies.
Some dental insurance plans will cover the cost of a bridge. Call ahead to ensure your insurance is one of them.
For More Information
Now, that you know the benefits and costs of dental implants versus bridges, contact Dean Dental Solutions today to find out which option would be best for your missing tooth or teeth. Call us at (501) 271-3735 or submit this form to request an application. We look forward to helping you look and feel better so you can feel confident flashing those pearly whites in a smile.
Thanks for explaining how dental bridges could help replace your missing teeth for a complete smile. My friend wants to help his brother look presentable when meeting his future in-laws. Since he mentioned that he lost a couple of his teeth from an accident, I think finding a dental clinic that can help him with this is a good idea.