Dental implants or dental bridges? This is a common dilemma facing many people missing teeth and looking for a replacement option. While both of these procedures are effective in restoring your beautiful smile, they are totally different from each other. This article has put together a guide explaining the difference between the two procedures to help you make an informed decision.

Dental Implants

A dental implant is a titanium post acting as a tooth root that provides support to a crown. It is inserted into the jawbone using some surgical methods, where it then fuse into the jawbone to anchor in position. This process is known as osseointegration. After this process is finished, an abutment is attached to the post frame. The abutment is made to protrude above the gum line in a way that it will provide space where the crown will be screwed or cemented.

Pros and Cons of Dental Implants

Pros

• Natural Looking

Dental implants look and feel natural. It also functions just like natural teeth. They are also stable and strong, giving you a confident smile.

• Little Maintenance

One of the biggest advantages of dental implants is that they are of high quality and can last for a lifetime. They also require little maintenance.

• Protects your Jawbone

Having a missing tooth or teeth keeps your jawbone at risk of deterioration. Dental implants help in preserving the jawbone .

• No strain on Adjacent Teeth

Unlike other replacement options such as dental bridges, dental implants provide their own anchor. They do not put any strain on the adjacent teeth.

Cons

• For the implants to be attached to the jawbone, surgical methods must be used. With surgical methods, there are always some risks included such as infection and nerve damage
• The method might take more time and maybe a bit costly

Dental Bridges

Dental bridges are appliances used to bridge the gap between one or more missing teeth to the other. The bridge is supported by either implants or natural teeth. The anchoring teeth are known as an abutment.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Faster

The procedure is much faster compared to dental implants.

• Simpler Procedure

Unlike other methods such as dental implants, bridges do not require any surgical methods to install. This makes the procedure less invasive and painful. All it takes a simple dental procedure at your dentist’s office to complete the entire treatment.

• Affordable

You do not have to spend an arm and a leg with dental bridges. They are affordable and will still look strong and beautiful.

Cons

• Less aesthetically pleasing

Compared to dental implants, bridges are considered to be less aesthetically pleasing. This is because they are not natural looking.

• Damage Existing Natural Teeth

For the bridges to be installed, natural teeth must be affected since they will be used as anchors, which is not the case with implants.

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