When it comes to matters of durability, a dental implant's permanence makes it a lot more robust than a dental bridge. A dental implant can better withstand the forces of biting and chewing than a bridge or dentures. A consultation at your local dental clinic will help you decide which option willwork best for you.
If you're missing more than one consecutive tooth, a dental bridge is likely a better option than an implant. A separate implant needs to be surgically attached to your jawbone for each missing tooth, leading to expensive and often impractical surgery.
Traditional bridges require putting crowns over perfectly healthy teeth. The healthy teeth on either side of the bridge will have to be shaved down and capped, which results in losing some healthy tooth enamel. This increases the risk of permanent damage to already healthy teeth.
In fact, our implant teeth are so successful that they should last as long as your natural teeth. The longevity of implants makes them the most affordable option long-term. On the other hand, the lifespan of bridges is much shorter, averaging about 8 years and requiring specialized care.
Dental Implants Require a Surgery for Placement
The complication rate is just an average 5 to 10%. The risks and complications you are taking for dental implants include infection, damage to other teeth, delayed bone healing, nerve damage, prolonged bleeding, jaw fractures and more.
Chances are, if you see a Hollywood A-lister with a perfect smile, that's their secret. Do celebrities have dentures? It's rare to see a celebrity who wears full dentures. Implants are sturdier and more natural replacement.
There are a few pros to opting for a dental bridge. It's a simple procedure in which surgery is not required (unlike implants). This makes getting a bridge a lot less painful than an implant. It's also a relatively quick procedure.
Bridges are natural-looking dental appliances that can replace a section of missing teeth. Because they are custom-made, bridges are barely noticeable and can restore the natural contour of teeth as well as the proper bite relationship between upper and lower teeth.
A bridge is much less expensive than implants, and with CEREC technology, a bridge can be placed in a single visit. However, a bridge is much less stable than an implant and usually lasts for about 10 years if you follow a sound oral health regimen.
Candidates for dental bridges
These teeth must have a strong root. People who have problems with their teeth that might require a procedure like a root canal in the future are not good candidates for dental bridges because the teeth could become infected or lose their strength and become damaged over time.
They are easy to care for and can last for 10 years or more with good oral hygiene. Common alternatives to dental bridges include dentures or implants.
Dental implants are 95% to 98% successful for 40 to 50+ years. Success rates for dental implants do not decrease over time. Success rates for bridges decreases steadily after 10 years. At 15 years, 1 in 3 bridges will typically fail.
Gum disease, decay or trauma can lead to the need for an implant supported bridge because these problems can cause tooth loss. When missing teeth, it is best to look into replacement options, one of which may be an implant supported bridge.
Implants offer more extended protection — a lifetime. Bridges, on the other hand, have a lifespan of around 10 years. Implants also support jaw health. Your bone stays healthy and strong, which impacts both the shape of your face and oral health positively as you age.
It restores the function of your teeth like chewing and speaking properly. It prevents your remaining teeth from shifting which causes problem in your bite. It reduces the risk of bone loss thus maintaining the structures of your face. The bridges are permanently fixed thus preventing it from moving like dentures.
It is very difficult to find out or tell someone whether they have a dental bridge or real teeth. The only way to tell if someone has a dental bridge is if you tell someone about it. That's one of the best things about a fixed dental bridge, they look natural and they blend right in.
Dental bridges are essentially indistinguishable from natural teeth, and no one will notice that the patients ever had tooth loss occur. Some people have the misconception that a dental bridge may not look like a natural tooth and that the overall quality of the bridge is not the same as with a dental implant.
Unfortunately the gum will not grow down because the bridge teeth are way too bulky and not in proportion with your natural teeth. You need to have a consultation with an experienced cosmetic dentist to have it replaced.
Dental bridges help replace one to four teeth, depending on your needs. However, generally, people replace one or two teeth. However, in rare cases, you can also have four teeth in a dental bridge, especially if you have sufficient healthy teeth present in your mouth to connect with dental crowns.
Uses of Different Types of Dental Bridges
The traditional fixed bridge is preferred in most situations because it offers the most strength for the bridge, from abutment teeth on either side of the pontic. However, if there is no place to fix the bridge on one side of the gap, a cantilever bridge may need to be used.
Even if you have healthy gums after getting dental implants, there is still a risk of gum recession occurring. Should gum recession occur, it can lead to dental implant failure and a number of ther serious wellness risks.
Yes, most patients are put to sleep for dental implants because the procedure is so invasive. However, if you're just having one or two implants placed, a local anesthetic may be sufficient. A local anesthetic will temporarily numb the area, so although you're awake during the procedure, you won't feel a thing.
The Dental Implant process is basically a three phase process, which can be different for each person. Typically the entire process takes from 5 to 8 months. As you will see, this is a little different for people getting full mouth dentures. The process can be faster for those getting a whole new set of teeth!
So when is the right age for an implant? Depends on the patient, but many people should try to avoid placing anterior implants at the age of 18. These studies show that for some people, the best long term esthetics will be achieved if the patient waits until the age of 25 or 30.