How To Decide Between A Dental Implant And A Bridge

Having problems with your teeth is nothing new for many. Issues do arise and various dental procedures can be performed to remedy the situations. When it comes to replacing teeth that are missing or badly deteriorated, you have a couple of options - you can have dental implants installed or you can opt for a dental bridge.

What Is A Dental Bridge?

The first procedure that you can have performed to replace a missing tooth is a dental bridge. This works by installing a false tooth which has two end caps. The two end caps are shaped as false teeth as well. They are positioned over the two teeth which are surrounding the missing tooth gap. This formulates what looks like a bridge, hence why they are called dental bridges.

What Are Implants?

Your second option is to have dental implants installed. These work by physically screwing in a metal implant into the gum line. The metal implant fuses with the jawbone to create strength for the jaw when chewing. Once the implant is inputted into the jaw and is evaluated for stability, a false tooth is attached to the rod.

What Are The Benefits Of Bridges?

One of the biggest advantages that dental bridges hold over implants is that they don’t require a surgical procedure to be installed. This allows for the entire procedure from start to finish to be much quicker than having dental implants installed. Bridges do take some getting used to as the end caps cover your existing teeth. However, they are a more inexpensive fix for a missing tooth.

What Are The Benefits Of Implants?

Implants are seen as a more structurally sound option as they fuse with the jawbone. While they are more expensive than the bridges, they do last much longer. When you have dental implants installed, their support during chewing comes from the rod which is fused with the jawbone. This is a major advantage over the dental bridges where the support for chewing comes from the surrounding teeth which are capped with the bridge.

Deciding between a dental implant and a bridge can be a decision that you may be faced with. While dental bridges can be much cheaper than dental implants, realize that they are a short-term fix. Most dentists will recommend having an implant installed over a bridge assuming your jawbone is healthy. In cases where the jawbone is missing or is unhealthy, a bridge will be preferred over an implant as the implant rod can’t fuse with the jawbone for support.

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Written By:
Anica Oaks is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor related. You can connect with Anica on Twitter @AnicaOaks.

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Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.