Dental implants and dental bridges are both replacement options for missing teeth. Our Delta dentists will take the following factors into consideration when prescribing either of these teeth replacement options.
Why Replace Missing Teeth?
Missing teeth should be replaced as soon as possible, because leaving the gaps can result in serious dental problems.
The surrounding teeth will eventually shift out of position, causing discomfort, TMJ symptoms, difficulty chewing or speaking, or possibly tooth decay and gum disease. Missing teeth will also cause the supporting bone to deteriorate over time, resulting in facial collapse.
Should I choose a dental bridge or an implant?
Dental bridges “bridge” the gaps left by missing teeth, and are attached to the teeth on either side of the gap, or to a dental implant placed for the purpose.
Dental implants are tooth root replacements made of titanium. To crate a new tooth, they are capped with a dental crown.
The benefits of a dental implant is that it looks, acts and feels just like a natural tooth, and is a more secure and permanent option.
A dental bridge may be a better tooth replacement option for you, however, if the neighbouring teeth have large fillings in them, and may need crowns or caps down the road.
In addition, if the tooth or teeth have been missing for a longer period of time, the gum and bone will have deteriorated to some extent. This will mean that additional, more invasive procedures may be required in preparation for a implant, such as bone and gum grafts. For this reason, some people feel that getting an implant is not worth the extra time, discomfort and expense, and so opt for a bridge instead.