Oral health issues can disrupt your daily life, and missing teeth can hurt your confidence. If you have lost a tooth to injury, gum disease, or tooth decay, replacing the missing tooth or teeth as soon as you can is surely the best thing to do. Apart from improving your appearance with a confident smile, a proper teeth replacement will help you avoid concerns about infections. Tooth replacement has been around for about three decades now, but it is ideal to do your homework to learn about the best approach to get this done. Implants and dental bridges are the best dental solutions for anyone looking to replace their missing tooth. It is, however, necessary to know the difference between dental bridges Farmington Hills and implants these two to know the right treatment for you.
What is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is a false tooth designed to appear like a real tooth. It is placed between crowns and glued in place with a special cement form with porcelain to match the color of the surrounding teeth. This is a solution Family Dentistry Farmington Hills will suggest to you if you miss a tooth between two healthy teeth. When you smile, it’s not obvious that all your teeth are not real.
What Are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is also a false tooth, but it is affixed to its place using a titanium post that is inserted into your gums or jawbone. Dental implants are made to fit, be natural-looking, and be designed to match the existing teeth. The American Academy of Implant Dentistry states that a dental implant helps prevent the deterioration of the jawbone. When a tooth is extracted or falls out, the jawbones shrink as years go by. This affects one’s smile and facial appearance.
Your dentist in Farmington Hills will embed the implant in your jawbone. As you chew and bite with your new tooth, you will stimulate the bone, which helps to prevent the bone from shrinking. Suppose the teeth you consider replacing are visible teeth, such as your front tooth. If you’re considering options for a missing front tooth, the American Dental Association recommends opting for a bridge or implant for front tooth, as implants tend to provide a more naturally appealing appearance compared to dental bridges. This can greatly enhance the aesthetics of your smile.
Missing a Tooth? Exploring Dental Implant Bridges vs. Traditional Bridges
If you’re in search of the optimal solution for your missing tooth, explore the advantages and disadvantages of both dental implant bridges and traditional dental bridges.
1. Appearance
To replace your missing teeth, you want a solution that will help you look your best. Both bridges and dental implants will give you a stunning smile. Whichever of the options you opt for, your replacement teeth will be matched to the color of your natural tooth by your dentist. However, dental bridges have no natural fit but dental implants are rooted into your gums. And as earlier mentioned, dental implants have a more natural look than bridges.
2. Number of teeth missing
A dental bridge is more suitable for you if you only miss one straight tooth. The procedure is also faster and less invasive than dental implants.
3. Overall health
While examining your medical history, if your dentist discovers you have a medical condition such as leukemia or diabetes, he might advise you against getting dental implants. This is because dental implants require surgery, and some medical conditions like the ones mentioned above will slow down your healing. Generally, it is necessary to be in good health and without a decayed jawbone to be the right recipient for dental implants Farmington Hills. A decayed jawbone is not healthy enough to support the implant.
4. Time
The process involved in getting a dental bridge takes a couple of weeks while getting an implant takes months. The dental implant procedure involves drilling into your jawbone and attaching the implant’s root to the bone. A temporary denture may be inserted until the bone is healed. The waiting period may take about 2-6 months. After that, a crown will be added.
5. Comfort
Apart from being mindful of the effect on your appearance, you also want to choose replacement teeth that are comfortable as you smile, talk and eat, talk and smile without any discomfort. Dental implants are more comfortable in this light. They feel like natural teeth and are equally strong, so you don’t have to worry that they might slip when you eat your favorite snacks or anything crunchy or chewy. Dental bridges are also comfortable replacements for your teeth because they fit properly in your mouth, but it might take a while to get used to them. While the porcelain makes dental bridges feel like natural teeth, it can put an extra strain on the teeth abutment.
How to Choose Between an Implant and a Bridge
Your dentist can provide guidance on how a bridge is done on teeth and recommend the most suitable tooth replacement option based on factors such as your budget, the extent of tooth loss, and your overall health.
1. Cost
If you’re wondering how much an implant for one tooth costs, it’s important to note that dental insurance is more inclined to cover a dental bridge rather than an implant. If you find yourself without insurance and both options seem too pricey, consider discussing alternatives like partial dentures with your dentist.
2. Number of Teeth Missing
An implant may not be the best solution if you are losing multiple teeth in a row; a dental bridge is probably a better choice. Each missing tooth requires a different implant to be surgically affixed to your jawbone; this requires costly and frequently unnecessary surgery.
3. Overall Health
Dental implants need surgery, therefore those who have illnesses like diabetes or leukemia that impair healing may not be candidates. The greatest candidates for dental implants are in good general health with a strong adequate jawbone that is free of cavities.
4. Time
A dental bridge can be fitted in two visits spread over a few weeks, but the complete process of receiving a dental implant can take months. An oral surgeon will drill a hole into your jawbone to link the implant’s root to the bone when you obtain a dental implant. While you wait for the bone to mend, they could place a temporary denture in your mouth. You will then need to wait 2-6 months for the bone to heal before you can put the crown on.
Contact Our Farmington Hills Cosmetic Dentist, Which is better Implant vs Bridge?
If you’re ready to restore your smile, or you need a little help deciding between Dental Implant vs. Bridge, our Farmington Hills dentist is here to help. Contact our doctor, Dr. Chetana D. Karanth at Pearl Dental PC to get started on a plan to achieve your best smile yet, so schedule your consultation today or call us at (248) 476-4416!
