Both dental implants and dental bridges are excellent options for replacing a number of missing teeth. Nonetheless, both tooth replacement options have their pros and cons. Here, our Surrey dentists explain more about dental implants vs dental bridges.
Either dental bridges or dental implants can be ideal solutions for replacing missing, side-by-side teeth. Both options offer a natural looking way to restore the appearance and function of your smile, but each of these tooth replacement options has their own pros and cons.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a permanent way to replace a single or multiple missing teeth. The implant portion of a dental implant is a tiny titanium rod which is permanently implanted into the jawbone where the roots of the natural tooth once were. After dental implants have been surgically placed and given some time to heal, the implant can be topped with a crown, bridge or denture that is colour-matched to blend perfectly with your remaining natural teeth.
Pros
- Dental implants function much like real teeth and give your smile a natural appearance.
- With proper care, dental implants can last 25 years or more.
Cons
- The dental implant process is long, taking weeks or even months to complete.
- In some cases a bone graft is required to strengthen their jawbone before the dental implants can be placed. Bone grafts can take several weeks or months to heal well enough for the dental implant process to begin.
Dental Bridges
A 'bridge' of artificial teeth attached to adjacent teeth (or to dental implants) on either side of the gap, can replace a single tooth or multiple teeth. For those patients who have experienced deterioration in the jaw bones and gums since the natural teeth were lost, a dental bridge can be an ideal tooth replacement option.
Pros
- Even for patients who have experienced jawbone deterioration, no additional bone or gum grafting surgeries will be required in order to place a dental bridge.
- Having a dental bridge placed is a much less invasive process than getting dental implants placed.
Cons
- Teeth adjacent to the bridge may be more susceptible to tooth decay because the supporting teeth must be prepared by removing a large proportion of the enamel.
- Typically, a dental bridge is just not as durable as dental implants are. When cared for properly, you can expect a dental bridge to last between 5-15 years.