Patients in Plainfield and Joliet Il who have lost a single tooth or several can choose replacement options that include dental implants or dental bridges. Both are excellent solutions for missing teeth, as well as solve the functional problems that the gaps they leave can cause. However, there are significant differences between the two. Here we will discuss the differences in depth.
About Dental Implants
Plainfield IL
A dental implant restoration involves the surgical placement of a tiny titanium ‘screw’ into the jawbone, which will bond with its bone tissue to form an artificial tooth root. After a healing period to allow that bonding process to occur, an abutment or small metal post is attached to the implant, onto which an artificial tooth will be secured. The result is a naturally looking tooth.
About Dental Bridges
Joliet IL
A dental bridge is a dental restoration that is usually made up of two crowns, and between the crowns is the space where 1 or more teeth are missing. The crowns are fitted onto natural teeth on each side of that gap. The result is a fixed dental restoration, supported by adjacent natural teeth, that closes the gap, restoring appearance and improving oral function.
Dental Implant Vs. Bridge Pros and Cons
Dental Implants
Dental implants offer the benefits of maintaining the jaw bone, the artificial tooth root providing the stimulation the jaw needs to remain strong and healthy. Avoiding bone resorption offers benefits for oral health and structure, as well as appearance, since a shrinking jawbone can cause premature facial aging. Other advantages of dental implants include superior aesthetics and oral function as compared to other options, with the average implant lasting 25 years. Potential cons of dental implants include a longer restoration process than many other teeth replacement options, since dental implant restoration is typically done in stages that may span several months. Additionally, oral surgery is required for this type of dental restoration, and initial costs are typically higher than those of bridge placement.
Dental Bridges
Among the pros of fixed dental bridges is that they are a quick means of replacing missing teeth, generally taking just two dental visits for preparation and placement. Also, they are fairly economical in terms of initial costs.
Cons of bridge use include the fact that they only replace the crown – or visible portion of a missing tooth – and therefore offer no protection against bone loss. Resorption of bone tissue beneath a bridge often leads to instability over time, which contributes to their shorter lifespan – the average bridge will need replacement every 7 to 10 years. Additionally, to place a bridge, the adjacent natural teeth that must support it are reshaped and crowned, a process that can weaken their structure, making them more vulnerable to decay or more apt to be damaged by the stress of supporting a bridge.
All-in-all, Plainfield and Joliet dental professionals will tell you, dental implants are the better choice in for tooth replacement in most cases, offering advantages in terms of long-term oral health and function, appearance and comfort that no other option can. However, if dental implants are not an option for you, dental bridges can provide an adequate alternative for replacing missing teeth.