Dental implants and dental bridges are dental restorations that fill the space left by missing teeth.When prescribing either of these restorations to a patient, our Surrey and Langley dentists will take the following factors into consideration.
Why Should I Replace Missing Teeth?
It's really important to your overall dental health that missing teeth be replaced as soon as possible. Leaving gaps unfilled can result in serious dental problems.
Teeth surrounding the gap will eventually shift out of position, causing problems like discomfort, TMJ symptoms, difficulty chewing or speaking, and possibly even tooth decay and gum disease. Having missing teeth for extended periods of time can cause the supporting bone to gradually deteriorate, resulting in changes in the appearance of your entire face.
Should I choose a dental bridge or an implant?
Dental bridges literally “bridge” the gap left by missing teeth. The dental bridge is typically attached to the adjacent teeth, or in some cases, to a dental implant placed specifically for the purpose.
On the other hand, dental implants are tooth root replacements that are surgically implanted directly into your jaw. Dental implants are made of titanium and capped with a dental crown. The dental implant permanently replaces a missing tooth.
The great benefit of dental implants is that they look, act and feel just like natural teeth, and they're a more secure and permanent option.
Nevertheless, a dental bridge might be a better tooth replacement option for you if the neighbouring teeth have large fillings, and might need crowns or caps down the road.
If the missing tooth has been absent for an extended period of time, the gum and bone around it will recede to some extent. This can mean that additional, more invasive procedures like bone or gum grafts might be required in preparation for the implant. For some people, getting an implant (as opposed to a bridge) is not worth the extra time, discomfort and expense.