Dental Implants or Bridge? Decoding the Pros and Cons of Both!
Despite considerable improvement in dental care, people lose teeth all the time and for a whole range of different reasons. Thankfully, there are many options to replace lost teeth, and two of the most common choices include implants and bridges. If you are confused about choosing dental implants or a bridge, we have a guide below with pros and cons.
What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is a replacement tooth root made of titanium that is surgically placed in the bone socket. The implant is secured naturally as the jawbone heals, and an abutment is used to secure replacement teeth to the implant.
Pros and Cons of dental implants
With dental implants, you don’t have to burden the adjoining teeth and can choose between permanent or removable replacement teeth. With basic care and attention to dental care, implants should last a lifetime. On the flip side, dental implants can be expensive and are not suited for everyone. If you are an avid smoker or have cardiovascular disease or diabetes, dental implants might not be the best option. The procedure of getting implants does take time, which also means more visits to the dentist.
Nevertheless, dental implants are great as a permanent means of replacing lost teeth, and there is no downside or side effects, especially after the treatment is completed successfully.
What is a dental bridge?
As the name indicates, a dental bridge basically works as a gap filler by taking help of adjoining teeth. If there is a gap (lost tooth), the dental bridge is fixed using the two teeth on the either side, like a cap. For many cases, dental bridges are better than implants, but it depends on condition of adjoining teeth, as well.
Pros and cons of dental bridges
If you go by price alone, dental bridges don’t cost even half of implants, especially if you have to replace just a couple of lost teeth. Secondly, there is no need for expensive surgery, and the recovery time is limited. In other words, the downtime to the treatment is almost nil. On the flip side, dental bridges rely on surrounding teeth, so there is a chance that the treatment may not last a lifetime and can also impact these teeth. Cantilevered bridges, for instance, have earned a bad name from experts and patients alike.
Find a clinic near you and seek an appointment with an experienced dentist to know more!