Despite maintaining an excellent oral hygiene routine, there may come a time when you need to replace one or more of your natural teeth. But should you go with a dental bridge or dental implants near you? Both of these have a long and reliable history as successful tooth replacement options. In this blog post, our team at Bow Trail Dental attempts to help you determine which tooth restoration option is best for you.
How Do Dental Implants Work?
A dental implant is an anchor that is surgically implanted into your jawbone by a dentist in SW Calgary. This implant post serves as a sturdy anchor for a false replacement tooth. The dental implant process takes up to nine months before the restoration is complete, and this can vary based on your body’s healing capabilities.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Dental Implants?
Like all dental restorations, dental implants in SW Calgary come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Some advantages of dental implants include:
- No impact on surrounding teeth– dental implants can replace individual teeth without compromising the surrounding teeth.
- Prevention of bone loss– a missing tooth can lead to bone loss due to the loss of stimuli from chewing in that area. A dental implant serves as a replacement tooth and tooth root, replacing the stimuli and encouraging bone growth.
- Durability– dental implants are built to last a lifetime with the proper care.
Some disadvantages of dental implants include:
- Required surgery– since an implant post must be inserted into your jawbone, it is a surgical procedure.
- Time– dental implants take a long time to place because the bone must fuse with the implant post. This process takes about 3-6 months.
- Costs– dental implants are very expensive due to the multi-step procedure that is required to place them.
How Do Dental Bridges Work?
There are many types of dental bridges, but a traditional dental bridge is made up of two crowns with a false tooth in the middle that acts as a replacement for the missing tooth. These crowns and false teeth can be made of many materials, but the most popular are ceramics and porcelain.
What are the Pros and Cons of Dental Bridges?
Dental bridges also come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages.
The main advantages of dental bridges are:
- They don’t need to be removed– dental bridges are cemented to your teeth by our dentist near you, so you don’t have to worry about removing them for cleaning. Simply brush your teeth and dental bridge all in one go.
- It is a quick process– getting a dental bridge typically takes two visits to a dental office.
- Fast adjustment period– since dental bridges are small, they typically take less time for patients to adjust to than other dental restorations such as dentures.
Some disadvantages of dental bridges are:
- They make brushing and flossing more challenging– while dental bridges can be cleaned like the rest of your teeth, you must be certain that you brush and floss under the bridge using special tools such as a floss threader.
- Shorter lifespan– dental bridges typically have a ten-year life span.
- Impact on adjacent teeth– a dental bridge uses neighbouring teeth for support, and as such, our dentist has to file the neighbouring teeth down to fit the dental bridge over them.
Other Considerations
When choosing between a dental implant or bridge, you should also consider that a dental bridge may be a better option if you have had a missing tooth for a long time because your bone and gum tissue may have already deteriorated, making it difficult to properly insert a dental implant.
If you would like to learn more about these restorative dentistry options and determine which is best for you, please do not hesitate to contact our team at Bow Trail Dental.