If you're looking to replace a number of missing teeth, dental bridges and dental implants are both natural looking options. That said, both have their pros and cons. Our Surrey dentists explain more about dental implants vs dental bridges.
If you're ready to restore the appearance and function of your smile, dental bridges and dental implants are both great tooth replacement options to consider.
Dental implants and dental bridges are both natural looking ways to replace a number of missing teeth, but each of these options has their own pros and cons.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a permanent tooth replacement option. The actual implants are tiny titanium rods that are permanently implanted into the jawbone where the roots of the natural tooth would have been.
Once they have been surgically placed the implants take some time to heal, but once the healing process is complete the implant can be capped with a crown colour-matched to blend perfectly with your natural teeth.
Pros
- Dental implants look and function much like natural teeth.
- With proper care dental implants can last 25 years or more.
Cons
- The dental implant process can be long, possibly taking weeks or even months to complete.
- Some people require a bone graft in order to strengthen the jawbone prior to placing dental implants. Bone grafts can take several weeks or months to heal in order to be strong enough support dental implants.
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge is a fixed dental restoration which isn't completely permanent. A single tooth or multiple teeth can be replaced by attaching a bridge of artificial teeth to adjacent teeth (or to dental implants) on either side of the space.
For 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
- No additional bone or gum grafting surgeries will be required in order to place a dental bridge.
- Getting a dental bridge to replace multiple teeth is a much less invasive process than having dental implants placed.
Cons
- Teeth adjacent to where the bridge will be placed must be prepared by removing a large proportion of the enamel, possibly making the supporting teeth more susceptible to tooth decay.
- Dental bridges are not as durable as dental implants. With proper care a dental bridge will last for many years, but will typically need to be replaced after about 5 - 15 years.