Dental Bridges vs. Dental Implants

Making the Right Decision for You

Teeth replacements have come a long, long way over the last 30 years, and while extracted or missing teeth are often a cause for concern regarding infection, having a proper replacement is often the key to keeping the mouth healthy and providing patients with confident smiles. However, with the number of options available to patients for these teeth replacements, they often need to ask their dental professional the right questions in order to choose the best possible replacement for them.

Choosing Dental Bridges or Dental Implants

In years past, a dental bridge was a patient’s only option when it came to tooth replacement, and although bridges are a modern alternative to implants, using this method for tooth replacement involves more than just simply replacing a missing tooth. In order for a dental bridge to work, the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth need to be prepared for the bridge by removing the majority of the enamel on those teeth in order to fabricate and install the bridge.

The alternative to using a dental bridge to replace a missing tooth is using a dental implant. During this procedure, the dental professional replaces only the individual missing tooth, which creates a permanent and stronger replacement. While this may seem like the much better option, it is important to take into consideration that if the surrounding teeth need fillings or caps at any time – this is the case where a dental bridge would be the better option, since it is removable by nature.

Change in Oral Hygiene with Tooth Replacements

In addition to a dental implant being a stronger and more permanent solution, it is also much easier to keep the mouth and teeth clean when an implant is used. Dental bridges, which are “fixed” or cemented into the mouth, involve at least three crowns that are connected together to help fill the space left by the missing tooth. The design of a dental bridge creates challenges when it comes to oral hygiene, specifically brushing and flossing. Because of this, additional vigilance with oral hygiene is required in order to keep the area clean and help prevent infection and decay in the future.

Ultimately, the choice between a dental bridge and a dental implant is different for each patient. Patients should discuss their options with a dental professional and use his or her knowledge to help choose the tooth replacement option that best meets their needs and lifestyle.

If you have questions regarding dental implants or bridges, you can consult your dentist to decide what is the best option for you, and you can always sign up for our New Hampshire Individual Discount Dental Plan to save as much as 20 percent on all your dental bills. For more information, please click here.

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