Missing teeth can not only lower your self-esteem, but it can also cause other more severe and costly dental problems. It is vital to replace missing teeth to maintain optimal oral health, and there are many options today for replacing teeth.
Although dental implants are certainly the most popular restorative option, there are many factors to consider when deciding whether this treatment is a suitable choice for your needs. Read more to decide whether dental bridges or dental implants are better for your specific scenario.
Dental Implants
Considered to be the most durable, long-lasting, and natural-looking option for tooth restoration, dental implants remain a popular choice for dentists. Dental implants are implanted into your jawbone using a biocompatible screw that acts as a replacement tooth root.
Dental implants encourage bone growth in the same way your natural teeth do, but the procedure necessitates surgery to properly implant the biocompatible screws into your jawbone.
Dental Bridges
At one point in time, dental bridges were the only option for replacing a tooth permanently, but they still offer a great solution to replace either a single missing tooth or multiple missing teeth. Dental bridges are a natural-looking and durable tooth replacement. A dental bridge is secured to your mouth using two dental crowns on your natural teeth that surround the gap created by your missing tooth.
Your dental bridge will hold your artificial tooth in place, and the tooth will be designed to blend in with your remaining natural teeth in their shape, size, and colour. Typically, dental bridges last for multiple years, but they do come with some disadvantages.
To have a dental bridge placed, you will need to have natural teeth on both sides of the missing tooth to use as your dental bridge’s abutments. These natural, healthy teeth will be permanently altered to make room for the dental crowns that hold your dental bridge in place. Altering these natural teeth can create problems with oral hygiene and increase sensitivity in these teeth.
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Dental Implants
A big disadvantage of dental implants is that they are costly. Dental implants are also a much more invasive process that requires surgery and a longer healing time. Dental implants can cause discomfort and cause difficulty eating and speaking while your body heals around the implants. The total procedure time for dental implants is several months.
Dental implants act similarly to natural teeth and seamlessly blend in with them as well. They also encourage bone and jaw health. Dental implants stimulate healthy growth and also help enhance the appearance of your smile. Another great benefit of dental implants is that they are permanent replacements that will last you the rest of your life with the proper care.
The Disadvantages and Advantages of Dental Bridges
With dental bridges, healthy teeth must be used as anchors, making them susceptible to tooth decay and sensitivity. Although dental bridges can last up to a decade, they will eventually need to be replaced even with excellent oral hygiene practices.
Dental bridges do come with their fair share of benefits. Dental bridges offer a natural look and a simpler and quicker procedure than dental implants. It takes about 7 to 10 days to complete the entire procedure for dental bridges.
Are You looking for Dental Implants or Dental bridges Near You?
A dentist in NW Calgary can help you decide which treatment option is best for you. At Royal Vista Dental, our team is happy to walk you through the procedures for both dental implants and dental bridges in NW Calgary. Please contact our clinic to book a consultation today.