Dental implants and dental bridges are both effective ways to replace a number of missing teeth. In today's blog our Delta dentists explain more about dental implants vs dental bridges, to help you decide which is the best tooth replacement option for you.
If you're weighing up your options for replacing a number of missing side-by-side teeth, dental implants or a dental bridge could help to restore the appearance and function of your smile. Nonetheless, each of these options has its pros and cons.
Dental Implants - Pros & Cons
Dental implants are a permanent, natural looking way to replace one or multiple missing teeth. The implant portion of a dental implant is a tiny titanium rod which is permanently implanted into the jawbone where the roots of the natural tooth once were. Once dental implants have been surgically placed and given adequate time to heal, the implant can be topped with a crown, bridge or denture that is colour-matched to blend perfectly with your remaining natural teeth.
Pros
- Dental implants function much like real teeth and give your smile a natural appearance.
- When cared for properly, dental implants can last 25 years or more.
Cons
- From start to finish, the dental implant process can be long, taking weeks or even months to complete.
- In some cases a bone graft is required to strengthen their jawbone before the dental implants can be placed.
Dental Bridges - Pros & Cons
A dental bridge is a 'bridge' of artificial teeth attached to adjacent teeth (or to dental implants) on either side of the gap. A dental bridge can be a great way to replace a single tooth or multiple teeth. For those patients who have experienced deterioration in the jaw bones and gums since the natural teeth were lost, a dental bridge can be a less invasive tooth replacement option.
Pros
- No additional bone or gum grafting surgeries will be required to place a dental bridge, even for patients who have experienced jawbone deterioration.
- Having a dental bridge placed is faster and a much less invasive process than having dental implants placed.
Cons
- Teeth adjacent to the bridge may be more susceptible to tooth decay because the supporting teeth must be prepared by removing a large proportion of the enamel.
- A dental bridge tends not to be as durable as dental implants are. You can expect a dental bridge to last between 5-15 years if cared for properly.