When Should You Choose Dental Bridges Over Implants?

Unfortunately, tooth loss is one of the most common dental issues globally. Many adults and children succumb to tooth loss due to various factors. Sadly, for adults, teeth do not regrow when they fall off. The only option would be to lead the rest of your life without all your teeth or resolve for tooth replacement solutions in dentistry. Thankfully, there are multiple dental restorations you can choose from for replacing your teeth.

What Are Dental Implants?

They are small titanium metal posts that replace tooth roots in restorative dentistry. Oral surgeons in dental clinics in NW Calgary insert dental implants in the jawbone first before placing dental crowns to complete the tooth replacement procedure. In that sense, dental implants cannot work alone to replace teeth. They require either dental crowns or dentures.

What Are Dental Bridges?

Dental bridges in NW Calgary are oral appliances that replace missing teeth in dentistry. They feature two dental crowns and an artificial replacement tooth called a pontic. Dental bridges are powerful tools for tooth replacement for less than three missing teeth in a row. It means that if you have more than three missing teeth in a row, you would better benefit from partial dentures.

When Do You Need Tooth Replacement?

Anyone can have a tooth replacement procedure. The only requirement is that you have at least one missing tooth. However, multiple missing teeth are still replaceable in dentistry. Some of the reasons why you would need to replace a tooth are:

1. Dental trauma – resulting in a partially dislodged or knocked-out tooth.
2. Fractured tooth – it could be cracked or broken enough to compromise the entire health of the tooth.
3. Impacted tooth – is a type of tooth that grows improperly, remaining partially or fully stuck under the gums.
4. Infected teeth – dental decay and cavities are the most common reasons for tooth extractions.
5. Periodontitis – is a severe infection of the gums and jawbone that compromises the stability of your natural teeth.

Benefits of Tooth Replacement

When you have lost multiple teeth, it is easier for you to understand the importance of tooth replacement than a patient who has only one missing tooth. However, whether one or more teeth, tooth replacement will benefit you in the following aspects:

1. Improving your aesthetics – people will not be staring at the gap in your mouth when you smile.
2. Supporting jawbone health – when you lose natural teeth, the jawbone remains inactive. The inactivity allows for bone tissue degeneration over time. Replacing teeth prevents regeneration and instead encourages regeneration of the bone tissue for a healthy jawbone.
3. Preventing shifting of adjacent teeth – did you know that when there is a gap in your mouth the rest of your teeth will start shifting? It happens gradually, so it may be difficult to identify at first.
4. Optimizing your mouth’s functionality – chewing, biting, speaking, and eating are necessary functions of the mouth that will suffer when you lose teeth.

Choosing Dental Bridges Over Dental Implants

When patients come to us at Springhill Dental, they expect everyone to choose dental implants over dental bridges after the high praise and popularity they have acclaimed over the years. However, patients have different needs and preferences, so some opt for dental bridges over implants. Some of the reasons for it are:

1. Non-invasive procedure – none of the types of dental bridges available in dentistry require surgery to install. Instead, your dentist will only prepare the adjacent teeth to receive dental crowns. The only time you would need surgery is to get implant-supported bridges, which would require implantation procedures. As such, conservative patients often opt for dental bridges over dental implants.
2. Perfect for single tooth replacement – if all you want is to replace one missing tooth, dental bridges are the perfect solution.
3. Consecutive tooth replacement – dental bridges are better for replacing two to three consecutive teeth than dental implants. With dental implants, you would require to get an implant for every tooth you have lost.
4. Less expensive option – compared to getting dental implants, dental bridges are more affordable.

Summary

Ultimately, there is nothing wrong with opting for dental bridges over dental implants or vice versa. It depends on your preferences and desired dental goals. Either way, ensure you liaise with your dentist regarding your options to determine whether you qualify for your choice restorations or not.