Dental implants are a good option for many patients when a tooth is missing or cannot be salvaged. Dental implants are surgically implanted into a patient’s jaw to restore the ability to chew, or to improve the appearance of the patient’s smile. Bridges attach an artificial tooth to the adjacent natural teeth with the help of two crowns. So dental implants or bridges: What’s the best tooth replacement option for you?
What’s the difference between dental implants and bridges?
Dental implants are placed in the bone, and the bone then grows around the implant to provide your new tooth with stability. A crown is attached to the top of the dental implant so that it looks, feels and behaves like a natural tooth.
Bridges attach an artificial tooth to the adjacent natural teeth, called abutment teeth. Crowns are placed on the abutment teeth, and then the artificial tooth is placed in between to fill the empty space.
Do dental bridges or implants look more natural?
Dental implants look, feel and act the most like a natural tooth. Patients can brush and floss like they normally would, and they don’t need special tools to clean their implant like they would with a dental bridge.
Which tooth replacement option would be best for me?
We understand and appreciate that every patient is different. So we start the process with a diagnostic 3D Cone Beam CT (CBCT) to check to see if a dental implant would be the best option. If the patient is a good candidate for an implant, we’ll place it here in our office with regular local anesthetic. After about 4-8 months of allowing the implant to heal, we’ll make a crown that looks, feels and behaves just like your natural teeth.
Some patients aren’t great candidates for implants, and for those patients, bridges are a great option for keeping their smiles healthy.
More questions about implants and bridges?
We’re always happy to answer new and current patients’ questions about tooth replacement options. If you’d like to learn more about whether a dental implant or bridge is the right option for you, please reach out to the Schumacher & Bauer team. We’d be happy to answer your questions!