What is Better: a Bridge or a Dental Implant?

When you break a tooth, receiving an appropriate replacement is critical to maintaining the rest of your teeth straight. Substitute teeth can also enable you to preserve your face form and avoid eating and speaking complications. Dental implants and bridges are two of the most popular alternatives.

Dental bridges are prosthetic teeth kept in place by the teeth around your broken tooth. They’re commonly manufactured of porcelain or plastic to match your natural tooth color. They can be used to cover one or more missing teeth.

Dental implants are prosthetic tooth roots that are typically constructed of titanium. They’re screwed into your jawbone to secure a crown or bridge.

Is a Dental Implant Better than a Bridge?

When it comes to dental operations, most individuals choose those that do not need complex procedures and are not prohibitively expensive. Selecting an implant over a bridge is thus a difficult option because implants need surgery and can be rather costly in some situations. On the other hand, dental implants are far more functional than bridges in the long term and are also healthier for oral health. The fact that they often survive longer than bridges explains the high expense connected with implant surgery. Another distinction between dental implants and bridges is implant appearance, which closely resembles natural teeth.

If properly cared for, implants can endure for several years, if not a lifetime. They are also easier to adapt with neighboring teeth than dental bridges, which often weaken the teeth closest to them and cause more tooth loss over time. If a patient has had a dental bridge, flossing and brushing will be tough. On the other hand, flossing thoroughly around a dental implant is significantly easier. While implants need a difficult surgical operation, once correctly put, they may be treated like actual teeth and become a part of the mouth, unlike bridges.

Since implants resemble natural teeth, they are preferred over bridges due to the poor cosmetic effects of bridges. A bridge just replaces a lost tooth and offers no further benefits. Conversely, implants emerge through the gums in the same way as natural teeth do. Furthermore, they have a root, exactly like a natural tooth, and the quality and density of this root increases over time due to the stress exerted on the implant.

Dental Implant VS. Bridge

Let’s discuss the difference between dental implants and bridges in more detail. In the sections below, we will examine the differences in various areas.

Type of Treatment

As the name suggests, a dental bridge spans the space where a tooth formerly existed. It entails replacing a lost tooth with an artificial tooth that is connected to both sides of the gap by your natural teeth. The graphic depicts how a bridge is constructed.

Unlike a bridge, an implant is a titanium screw inserted into your jawbone and capped with a crown to replace your lost tooth. Implant-supported bridges can also be used to replace multiple missing teeth in a row by placing a bridge on top of implants.

Appearance and Functionality

Implants and dental bridges may restore your natural smile and are unobtrusive solutions for tooth replacement.

Because the implant is a titanium screw, it will be hidden within your jawbone. Your fake tooth or teeth will be identical in form, tint, and size to your original teeth, so they will appear and feel natural. The illustration depicts the placement of an implant.

Visibility

Because dental bridges are not buried beneath your gum, the bridge’s framework may be seen behind or between your replacement teeth; however, your dentist will make the bridge seem as natural as possible. It may take a while to get used to the sensation of a bridge in your mouth, but they should become more comfortable after a while.

Existing Teeth

If you want to avoid inflicting any harm to your existing teeth, implants may be a better alternative. For example, when you have a bridge, your dentist may have to cut your natural teeth on both sides. Dental implants can withstand the same amount of pressure as natural teeth because they are embedded in your jaw. In contrast, dental bridges distribute pressure to the surrounding teeth, which are normally trimmed or filed down to support the crowns.

Wear Over Time

Although implants should last as long as natural teeth if properly cared for, a dental bridge might deteriorate with time owing to this strain and the removal of the supporting teeth. A dental bridge will ultimately require repair therapy, but you may extend its life by taking good care of it.

Jaw Health

While considering tooth replacement, you should also evaluate your jaw health. For example, when a tooth and its root are lost, the teeth on either side of the gap might ‘lean’ into the empty area, causing bone loss. A dental bridge attaches nearby teeth and prevents them from slipping; however, unlike an implant, a bridge does not have a screw put into the jaw to replace the missing tooth’s socket. Therefore, it does not prevent bone loss over time.

An implant works like a natural tooth with a root, and it keeps your jaw healthy as you age, avoiding bone loss that can change the form of your face.

Dental Implants Procedure 

Implant surgery is generally done in two stages. The implant is first put in your jaw. This is normally done under local anesthesia at your local practice. Implants can only be implanted in thick enough bone to support them. If your jawbone lacks volume, your dentists may be able to fix the condition with a bone graft.

The second step of implant therapy, when the crown is placed, is typically performed three to six months after the implant has been placed. This allows the bone to regenerate around the implant before the crown is placed.

Dental Bridges Procedure 

Bridges may be preferred over implants in some cases since they are a less invasive treatment. In addition, the density of your jawbone is unimportant, and you’ll require fewer visits to the dentist.

On your initial visit, your dentist will file the neighboring teeth near where the bridge will be installed and take an imprint of the spot to build a cast. The mold will then be used to manufacture a bridge that matches your natural teeth. During your next appointment, your dentist will secure the bridge and ensure that your bite is right and comfortable. This is done under local anesthesia, so you will not feel any discomfort.

Costs

A dental bridge is typically cheaper than a dental implant since the treatment is easier and requires fewer visits to the dentist.

Dental implant therapy often takes longer than bridge treatment and includes a healing time before the final crown is placed on your implant. This means you’ll require more dental appointments, which will cost more than a bridge. Implants are composed of high-quality materials as well. To obtain a natural finish, the implant fixture and abutment (a little post affixed to the top of the implant that holds the artificial tooth) are composed of titanium, and the crown is made of ceramic or porcelain.

Aftercare

You’ll need to take careful care of your bridge or implant, both after the treatment and in the long run. Flossing might be more difficult with a bridge, but your dental hygienist will give you all the information you need to properly care for it.

Suitability

If you smoke, have undergone radiation to your jaw area, or have poorly managed diabetes, dental implants may not be suggested. In addition, if you have gum disease, your dentist will work with you to address it before placing a dental bridge or implant.

Remember that each situation is unique, so consult with your dentist, who will perform a thorough clinical examination and discuss your treatment choices with you.

How to Choose Between Dental Implants and Bridges?

A dentist can advise you on the best tooth replacement option for your specific scenario. Your budget determines the best option between dental implants and bridges, the number of missing teeth, and your overall health.

Cost

If you have dental insurance coverage, a bridge is more likely to be covered than an implant. However, if you don’t have insurance and neither choice is within your budget, you might wish to chat with a dentist about partial dentures or alternative possibilities.

Number of Missing Teeth

A dental bridge is generally a better alternative than an implant if you are missing more than one consecutive tooth. For each lost tooth, a separate implant must be surgically affixed to your jawbone, resulting in costly and frequently impracticable procedures.

Overall Well-Being

Dental implants need surgery. Therefore, they may not be a choice for persons suffering from medical diseases that impede recovery, including diabetes or leukemia. On the other hand, the greatest patients for dental implants are in good general health and have a healthy enough jawbone to sustain the implant.

Time

A dental implant can take months to complete, but a dental bridge can be fitted in two visits to your dentist spaced out over a few weeks.

A dentist will drill into your jawbone and secure the implant’s root to the bone when you obtain a dental implant. Then, they may place a temporary denture as you wait for the bone to recover.

A crown can then be added after waiting 2 to 6 months for the bone to mend.

Why Does a Doctor Prefer Bridge Over Implant?

In cases where two teeth are broken down near the missing tooth, a dental bridge is better than an implant. This is because such teeth require crowns for further protection.

Bridges are more adaptable in altering the color of more than two teeth at a lower cost. If you have a high grin line, you should consider getting a dental bridge since they match more than two of your teeth simultaneously.

Likewise, whereas the healing process for a dental implant might take months for the bone to mix around the post, a normal dental bridge can be put in 2 in only a day or two.

Certain individuals may be ineligible for dental implants owing to conditions such as cancer or diabetes or if they are taking certain medications. Also, your dentist may not recommend an implant if your general health is poor.

Is It Painful to Get a Dental Bridge?

While considering dental bridges, you must expect some discomfort, but know this. The bridge treatment is painless because a local anesthetic is administered while your teeth are prepared and when your dentist takes an impression. Therefore, using the following analgesic therapy for pain relief is frequently unnecessary.

The dental bridge method is more comfortable than the agony you experience due to your missing tooth, making you vulnerable to many problems that require treatments from various dental professionals at exorbitant rates.

A lost tooth, for instance, causes your other teeth to drift toward the vacant space, resulting in a misalignment that needs orthodontic treatment. In addition, if you leave the blank region untreated, it creates a breeding ground for bacteria that can develop illnesses like tooth decay and gum disease, which require the assistance of periodontists.

Furthermore, you become nutritionally inadequate since the missing tooth prevents you from chewing foods, forcing you to swallow huge pieces, which causes indigestion. Finally, the total cost of all treatments will be more painful than the dental bridge procedure.

How Many Teeth Can Be on a Bridge?

Based on your demands, dental bridges can replace one to four teeth. Yet, most patients just replace one or two teeth. Yet, in rare situations, four teeth can be used in a dental bridge, particularly if you have enough healthy teeth to link with dental crowns. If you are in good oral health and have four missing teeth in a row, see a dentist in your area to see if four dental bridges are appropriate for your case. The dentist would gladly assist you and advise you on the best course of action for replacing your lost teeth.

You probably have many questions if you want dental bridges in Ahwatukee, Phoenix, AZ, to replace lost teeth. Instead of attempting to figure things out on your own, make an appointment with Atrium Dentistry to obtain the answers you need and dental bridges to replace your lost teeth.

Dental Implants and Bridges in Ahwatukee, Phoenix, AZ

Dental implants and bridges are two possibilities for tooth replacement. Dental bridges are more probable to be reimbursed by insurance and have a lower initial cost. However, if cost isn’t a concern and you’re in good general health, dental implants may be a better alternative because they stay longer and don’t affect the teeth around them. A dentist can help you decide the best option.

If you are looking for dental implants and bridges, contact Dr. Foroughi of Atrium Dental in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Foroughi assesses your situation carefully to fully comprehend your requirements. Finally, using specialized knowledge and modern machinery, Dr. Foroughi provides you with the highest degree of customized dental implants and bridge treatments.

To discuss our dental services for the elderly with an expert team of dentists, schedule a consultation session at (480) 940-4321, and fill out our online appointment form.