Having a visible missing tooth can largely affect someone’s self-confidence. It can also create negative effects, such as causing the jaw bone to shrink, weakening the teeth on the sides of the absent tooth, and even causing the gums to recede. This is where our St. Albert dentist may recommend a dental restorative procedure such as a bridge or an implant. These fixed replacements of missing teeth are quite effective and work well on visible front teeth without any issues, unlike wearing a partial denture. If you are trying to decide between a dental implant or a dental bridge, the following information may help you.
Let us first have a clear understanding of what exactly a dental bridge and a dental implant are.
1. Dental Bridge
A bridge is quite similar to what it implies – a “bridge” made to replace a missing tooth. It is a false tooth fixed to the gap where the missing tooth is, supported by a metal bridge that is connected to the teeth on either side of that tooth. There are several kinds of dental bridges that you can get.
Conventional Bridge – This is the strongest option that you can get when it comes to dental bridges in St. Albert. It is made of two crowns that support the false tooth or the “pontic” that fills the missing tooth’s gap.
Maryland Bridge – This quick solution bonds the false teeth to the supporting crowns with a resin adhesive.
Cantilever Bridge – Another temporary solution which is fixed only on one side.
The advantages and disadvantages of getting a conventional bridge include:
Advantages of Dental Bridge:
- It looks very much similar to natural teeth
- It only takes two visits to our dentist
- More cost-effective when compared to dental implants
- It lasts up to 15 years with good maintenance
- More comfortable since it is a fixed and semi-permanent solution
- Short recovery time
Disadvantages of Dental Bridge:
- The supporting adjacent teeth can weaken and become damaged over time
- The preparation process of adjacent teeth causes perfectly healthy teeth to be filed down
- There is a chance for the supporting teeth to lose vitality
- The bridge can be difficult to clean regularly
2. Dental Implants
An implant is a more complex and permanent solution to a missing tooth. They have a special titanium root inserted into the jaw, which is eventually fully integrated into the bone. Dental implants look and feel as close as possible to natural teeth and have high rates of lifetime success.
The procedure for a dental implant does not require damaging healthier teeth like dental bridges. After a comprehensive dental exam, sometimes including X-rays and 3D images, our dentist will recommend going ahead with the procedure for dental implants near you. Then they will prepare a treatment plan fully tailored to your situation. Once the procedure is complete, you will receive important after-care instructions from our dental clinic near you. You and our dentist can also discuss implant crown restorations in St. Albert.
The advantages and disadvantages of getting dental implants are as follows:
Advantages of Dental Implants:
- A proper look and feel of a natural tooth
- No need for damaging the healthier teeth to function as a supporting tooth
- Lifetime longevity
- No need to restrict food or drinks in order not to damage the implant
- No special cleaning or maintenance needed
Disadvantages of Dental Implants:
- It Can be quite costly
- The procedure is long and time-consuming
- The surgery is more complex and invasive than other dental restorative procedures