While dental bridges and dental implants are both excellent options for tooth replacements, both have their pros and cons. In this post, our Surrey and Langley dentists share some facts about dental implants vs. dental bridges.
Depending on your specific circumstances, you may need a dental bridge or dental implant to replace missing, side-by-side teeth. While both offer a natural-looking option to restore the function and appearance of your smile. Each of these tooth replacement options has their own pros and cons.
Dental Implants
We can use dental implants as a permanent option to replace single or multiple missing teeth. A small titanium rod makes up the implant part of a dental implant. The rod is permanently implanted into the jawbone, replacing the roots of the natural tooth. After the dental implant has been surgically placed and has had time to heal, your dentist can top it with a crown, bridge or denture that has been colour-matched to blend perfectly with your remaining natural teeth.
Pros
- Dental implants function similar to real teeth and bring a natural appearance to your smile. With proper care, dental implants can last 25 years or more.
Cons
- The dental implant process is long and the implant takes time to heal. The entire procedure takes weeks or even months to complete.
- In some cases, the jawbone needs to be strengthened before dental implants can be placed. In these circumstances, a bone graft is needed and can take several weeks or months to heal well enough for your dentist to begin the dental implant process.
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge is made of artificial teeth and ‘bridges’ the gap between adjacent teeth or dental implants. The bridge can replace a single tooth or multiple teeth. Some patients have experienced jawbone and gum deterioration since losing their natural teeth. This would be an ideal option for these patients.
Pros
- Even for people who have experienced deterioration of the jawbone, no additional bone or gum grafting surgeries will be needed to place a dental bridge.
- It’s much less invasive to have a dental bridge placed than to get a dental implant placed.
Cons
- Teeth adjacent to the bridge may be more vulnerable to tooth decay as a large portion of the enamel must be removed from the supporting teeth in the preparation phase.
- A dental bridge typically won’t be as durable as a dental implant. When cared for properly, you can expect a dental bridge to last between 5 to 15 years.