Dental Bridge vs Dental Implant

Are dental bridges a good idea?

One must consider all factors before making a choice when it comes to a dental bridge vs implant. Traditionally, placing a dental bridge requires preparation such as grinding down adjacent teeth. Grinding down adjacent teeth allows them to be used as anchors. A dental implant, however, only involves one tooth. An implant is very similar to the placement of a crown.

How much does a bridge cost for a single tooth?

As with any type of dental procedure, the cost can vary. There are many factors that can go into deciding the final cost of a bridge. A great way to find out is to make an appointment for a consultation. At this appointment, your dentist in Lincoln, NE can evaluate your specific needs, current situation, and look at your health history. From there, he or she can help determine if a dental bridge is right for you.

The bottom line is that when it comes to deciding between a dental bridge vs implant, listen to your dentist’s recommendation. Ultimately, their opinion holds the most value since they know your history. Their knowledge can help you make a decision between a dental bridge vs dental implant. Decisions, decisions! So many great options and to throw another curve ball, Nebraska Family Dentistry offers affordable dental care by accepting many forms of payments as well as offering a handful of different payment options. This way, you can get the dental care you need and the smile you deserve! When a tooth is lost it should be replaced. All teeth are important. Often it is difficult to decide whether to have your dentist replace your missing tooth with a dental bridge vs implant. Both methods are good but both have different advantages and disadvantages.

If you had to choose between a dental bridge vs dental implant, which one do you think you would prefer? When it comes to replacement of a missing tooth and being able to find affordable dental care, these are typically two options that patients have. Unfortunately, it seems as though many patients do not have all of the information that they need to make an informed decision.

While it is okay to trust in the advice of your Lincoln dentist, it may indeed be worth your time to sit down and do a little research. Not only will you know what you are getting with a dental bridge vs dental implant, but it may also help you come up with some critical questions to ask before making your final decision. When making an informed decision, it is good to know exactly how both options work.

Think about it in both contexts: dental bridge vs dental implant and Implant vs dental bridge. The benefit of asking the same question in two different ways is that an important detail may be left out of one question and might make it seem that the answer implies something completely different. Switch it up a bit; it might be worth it. You could uncover some hidden information that could be very beneficial. Let’s get to the bottom of it. How do these options function?

How does the dental bridge concept work?

Rather than using a titanium post placed into the jawbone, a bridge uses surrounding teeth as a form of support for an artificial crown. Although this may sound like the easier option knowing that it requires less time and no drilling, a dental bridge can indeed be more invasive than an implant. How so? Well, once you get a dental bridge, there are constant adjustments and alignments of neighboring teeth that must be done. That’s correct, the teeth that were just fine before you got the bridge are now requiring work in order to be able to have the bridge placed.

The term “dental bridge” tells you all that you need to know about what it is and how it works. Just like a bridge on the road would close a gap between two pieces of land that may lie on each side of a body of water, for example, a dental bridge does the same and closes a gap left between teeth. The neighboring teeth act as anchors so to speak and have to be prepped before the bridge can be put in place. As mentioned earlier, a bridge is made by using the teeth next to the missing tooth, as anchors. Consequently, the teeth next to the missing tooth must be altered. This is done by taking away some of the tooth structure and is done in the same way as when a tooth is prepared for a crown.

In short, a bridge is 3 crowns that are connected together. In the end, one piece is formed and then cemented in place. Ultimately, the middle crown floats over the gum tissues but maintains the space. Bone recedes under the floating crown and over time, this can lead to the supporting teeth being lost. Teeth under a bridge are also susceptible to getting decay. Bridges can last over 10 years but typically, tend to last closer to 5 years. Just like any procedure, there may be some hesitation. Getting a bridge has advantages and disadvantages, which are listed below.

The advantages of bridges are:

• Most dentists have the knowledge to make them.
• They can be made quickly.
• They usually provide good aesthetics.

The disadvantages of bridges are:

• The anchor teeth, which may have no fillings are permanently altered and could be eventually lost due to the capping process.
• The capped teeth may get decay where the cap meets the tooth.
• If any part if the bridge fails, the whole bridge often fails involving more than one tooth.

Replacing missing teeth is important to keep our surrounding teeth healthy. Teeth move into open spaces over time, which can affect how we bite together. Also, teeth may become more susceptible to getting cavities, which can result in more teeth needing to be extracted.

Another option for replacing missing teeth is a dental implant, which is done by an oral surgeon. Implants are essentially artificial roots that are placed directly into the bone. Your dentist in Lincoln, NE will then add a crown to the implant giving you that seamless smile. The implant helps stimulate supporting bone health and is allowed to heal for 3-4 months. The crown which is placed on top of the implant after integration, can last a lifetime. Overall, the dental implant process can be quite lengthy and take upwards of six months. It is however, ultimately a process that proves very durable and can last many, many years.

Implants can replace more than one missing tooth and they can even be an option for replacing all teeth. If several missing teeth are next to each other, your dentist in Lincoln, NE might have a difficult time trying to make a bridge work. Why? Creating a bridge can be tricky since there needs to be one healthy tooth on each side of the one that is missing to act an anchor.

On the whole, implants generally don’t require much maintenance and are much easier to floss around. Even better, implants can offer that natural look that everybody wants. Implants eliminate slipping and rubbing that often happens with other options such as traditional dentures, for example. Curious how implants may or may not benefit you? The pros and cons can be found below.

Advantages of implants:

• Other teeth in the mouth are not altered, which occurs with bridge placement.
• Involvement of strictly the space where the missing tooth was lost is necessary for treatment.
• Implants help preserve the bone in the area they are placed.
• Implants can last a lifetime.

Disadvantages of dental implants are:

• Dental implants take longer to complete than a bridge.
• Dental implants are more expensive and rarely does dental insurance cover them.

There are still many additional benefits for bridges, however. One significant advantage is that it is not a surgical procedure. A dental bridge is very stable once it is correctly fixed in place and anchored on the two adjacent teeth and can be done by a dentist near me in Lincoln, NE.

So, when it comes to choosing between a dental bridge vs implant, be aware that you may not always have a choice. If you have had significant bone loss in the jaw, your only option may be a bridge. At that point, it would be the least uncomfortable, most practical option.

While this isn’t a complete list, here are some additional questions that may help you decide between a dental bridge vs dental implant?

What are the pros and cons of replacing a tooth with a dental bridge?

Bridges are an excellent way to replace missing teeth. They restore aesthetics and some function. They are fixed prosthetic, which means they do not have to be taken in and out of the mouth when we eat or brush. The downside of a bridge is that we have to prepare adjacent teeth on either side of the missing space for crowns in order to place the bridge. Usually, patients can keep their bridge healthy for about 8-10 years, but typically this type of restoration does not last a person’s lifetime. When a bridge fails, it is usually due to secondary decay around the supporting teeth. Or, the bridge itself breaking due to chewing forces over time. Often times, this results in the loss of supporting teeth.

How long does a dental bridge last?

Dental bridges can last anywhere from five to 15 years, possibly even longer.  Good home care and oral hygiene along with routine checkups can greatly increase the lifespan of a dental bridge. It is not uncommon for the lifespan of a bridge to be over 10 years.

Nebraska Family Dentistry has dental clinic locations in all parts of Lincoln! Choose a “dentist near me” location that is convenient for you.