Dental implants and dental bridges are dental restorations that fill the space left by missing teeth.When prescribing either of these restorations to a patient, our Surrey dentist will take the following factors into consideration.
Why Should I Replace Missing Teeth?
It is very important to your overall dental health that missing teeth be replaced as soon as possible. Leaving gaps unfilled can result in serious dental problems.
The teeth around the gap will eventually shift out of position, causing problems like discomfort, TMJ symptoms, difficulty chewing or speaking, and possibly tooth decay and gum disease. Having missing teeth for an extended period of time will also cause the supporting bone to deteriorate over time, resulting in changes in the appearance of your whole face.
Should I choose a dental bridge or an implant?
Dental bridges literally “bridge” the gaps left by missing teeth. These dental appliances are typically attached to the adjacent teeth, or in some cases, to a dental implant placed for the purpose.
Dental implants, on the other hand, are tooth root replacements that are surgically implanted into your jaw. Made of titanium and capped with a dental crown, a dental implant permanently replaces a tooth.
The benefits of dental implants is that they look, act and feel just like natural teeth do, and are a more secure and permanent option.
Nevertheless, a dental bridge may be a better tooth replacement option for you if the neighbouring teeth have large fillings, and may need crowns or caps down the road.
In addition, if the missing tooth has been absent for a long time, the gum and bone around it will have receded to some extent. This can mean that additional, more invasive procedures like bone or gum grafts may be required in preparation for the implant For some, getting an implant (as opposed to a bridge) is not worth the extra time, discomfort and expense.