The Differences Between Implants and Bridges?

Proudly providing quality dental services and care to Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, and all of Palm Beach County, Florida.

Cosmetic dentistry has refined its procedures over the years and has created new and improved ways to help repair teeth. This may or may not be a great thing, as more procedures are perfected, the tougher the choice may be for narrowing down the perfect fix for your dental dilemmas. One of the toughest choices in this industry usually lies between dental implant vs. dental bridge, which do you think is the perfect answer for your cosmetic dental needs?

In many cases, people opt to invest in dental implants, as the longevity of the procedure long surpasses that of dental bridges. However, there are many factors that tie into this procedure, and after detailed research, you may find that dental bridges may be what you’re looking for.

What Are Dental Bridges?

Dental bridges were a much more common procedure years ago; they have performed the same way today as they have for years. If you need to replace a missing tooth, the two teeth on either side of the missing area are prepped for the bridge by removing all enamel from the tooth to provide a foundation for a sturdy hold. This may not be the route you choose to go as perhaps you don’t want to affect the natural teeth you do have. However, in some cases, this is ideal. Some patients will find that the surrounding teeth may need replacing in the future anyway or they currently have large fillings that may need different solutions later.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants work in a much cleaner manner, as they do not affect any surrounding teeth. The titanium post is drilled directly into the jawbone to create an anchor for a replacement tooth. This option is much more long-lasting and looks the most natural. The procedure type sometimes does scare patients away, but not to fear, local anesthesia is used to allow zero pain. Some may even opt to be “knocked out” for the procedure, either way, it’s a little bit of discomfort for a long lasting beautiful smile.

How Durable Are They?

The short answer to this is; dental implants last nearly 4x longer than bridges. Dental bridges give you a surface quick-fix solution that may or may not last you 10 years, depending on how well they are maintained. Yearly visits to the dentist are needed to ensure they are always in place and cleaned properly. In a dental bridge scenario, your natural tooth is still under the bridge (no pun intended), and so normal wear will occur along with being at a higher risk for gum disease and decay.

Dental implants are created using a dental grade titanium that naturally fuses with your jawbone. This process means they are resistant to gum problems or decay, because of the strong metal that is used.

Aesthetics & Cost

Often, dental implants prove to have the most natural looking façade, rather than bridges. As for cost, dental implants are by far the more expensive option, however, the investment you will spend for this procedure will allow peace for the upcoming 40+ years. Unlike implants, bridges are the cheaper option, but keep in mind they may need to be replaced a few times throughout your life. Either choice will likely be easily payable by your dentist's payback plans, ask your dentist about these options.

Contact us today to start your journey towards a beautiful new smile you can be proud of. Consider Ritter and Ramsey for your Dental Implants consultation and care.

Interested in learning more about how long a typical dental implant procedure takes? Read More.