Choosing Between A Dental Bridge And An Implant: What's The Best Option For You?
If you’re looking to replace missing teeth with dental implants, or if you want to add new teeth to your smile and improve the health of your mouth, you must understand how this procedure works. Dental implants and bridges are very similar in their function. Both are designed to replace missing teeth with artificial ones. They differ in the materials used for their construction: dental bridges use metal or bone grafts; implants consist of a titanium post surgically inserted into the jawbone.
What are Dental implants?
These are popular and effective ways to replace missing teeth. They are usually made of titanium and are surgically placed in the jawbone. Over time, the bone fuses with the implant, creating a strong and stable foundation for artificial teeth. The implants also support a dental bridge or dentures.
What are Dental bridges?
A dental bridge is a false tooth fixed on two adjacent teeth. It has different options, including traditional, cantilever, and Maryland dental bridges. A cantilever bridge uses only one tooth for support, while Maryland-bonded bridges have wings on each side of the pontic that are bonded to the adjacent teeth.
What is the Procedure for Getting Teeth Implants?
The first step in getting teeth implants near you is to consult with a qualified oral surgeon. During the consultation, the surgeon will determine if you are eligible for the implants. The dentist will perform a thorough dental exam and have x-rays taken. These will be used to develop a treatment plan specifically for you.
Once the treatment plan is developed, the next step is to prepare your mouth for surgery. This may involve making small incisions in your gums and placing metal frames or posts into your jawbone. The metal frames or posts will serve as anchors for the artificial teeth. Sometimes, you may need to undergo bone grafting procedures to ensure enough support for the implants.
After your mouth has been prepared for surgery, the actual implant surgery will take place. During this procedure, the small titanium screws are placed into your jawbone. The implants typically take several months to fully heal and bond with the jawbone before artificial teeth can be placed on them.
What is the Procedure for Getting Dental Bridges?
Dental bridges are typically made of ceramic or porcelain and are designed to fill the gap left by one or more missing teeth. The process of getting dental bridges usually takes place throughout two dental visits.
During your first visit, your dentist near you will prepare the abutment teeth, the natural teeth that will support the dental bridge. Once the abutment teeth have been prepared, your dentist will create a model for your custom-made dental bridge.
During your second visit, your dentist will remove the temporary bridge and check to see that your permanent bridge fits properly. Finally, your dentist in SE Calgary will permanently cement the bridge.
What are the Requirements for Getting Dental Implants?
First, bone density and smoking status are important considerations. Because an implant is made of titanium, it’s not as flexible as the natural jawbone surrounding it. If you have insufficient bone support, an implant may not be right for you—you might need a fixed bridge teeth instead.
Which Option is Ideal?
A bridge is used when a tooth has been lost to decay or injury, but it still has a good root and crown structure. If the tooth is missing its root and crown, it cannot be restored with an implant. The bridge will stabilize the remaining teeth on either side of it by holding their roots together and supporting them in place.
On the other hand, if your teeth are free from decay and have only cosmetic issues like thin enamel or discolored areas around them, an implant might be better than a bridge because it has more advantages. Tooth-by-tooth placement of implants allows for much more stability than bridges, which rely on the surrounding bone to hold everything together.
Visit Chaparral Valley for an assessment of which option is ideal.