Post: Is a Dental Implant Treatment Better Than a Bridge?

Is a Dental Implant Treatment Better Than a Bridge?

Dental Implant Treatment

This is a question we are quite often asked here at ECO Dental, particularly by people who may only have one missing tooth and are considering ways of replacing it.

When it comes to replacing just a single missing tooth then a dental implant treatment may well be your best option, but everyone is different and this is something that can be assessed by our dentists during your consultation. So why might a dental implant be best?

Think About Having a Dental Implant Treatment

There are various reasons why you should think about having a dental implant to replace just a single tooth as this choice can be better for your dental health and can produce superior aesthetic results. We particularly like using dental implants because of the positive impact they can have on your dental health.

When you have a dental implant treatment it closely replicates a natural tooth root, providing essential stimulation to keep the bone surrounding the implant post healthy and strong. This ensures that you will not lose any bone mass which could otherwise have a destabilizing effect on the teeth adjacent to the implant.

Additionally, a dental implant will help keep these teeth in place and will prevent them from shifting position.

Understanding Dental Implants

Another reason for considering a dental implant treatment is that it doesn’t require us to grind down the teeth adjacent to the gap. If you choose a bridge then these teeth will need to be shaped in order to be crowned.

We do need to remove quite a bit of tooth structure to create sufficient room for dental crowns which could be a problem if these teeth are healthy and nicely shaped. When you have dental restorations you also need to be prepared to renew them every so often and this can make a dental bridge a more expensive option in the longer term.

This is because every time this restoration needs replacing, you will be paying for three replacement bridge teeth rather than just a single implant crown.

When a Bridge Might Be a Better Option?

Occasionally a dental bridge may be a better choice and this might be the case if the teeth adjacent to the gap need to be crowned. We know some people feel quite apprehensive about the small surgical procedure required for dental implant treatment and a bridge is a quicker treatment that can be completed in a matter of a few weeks rather than a few months.

For some people with certain health conditions, a bridge might be a better choice as dental implants do require you to be in reasonable dental and general health. This is because the implant post has to integrate with the surrounding bone and certain diseases such as diabetes can slow down the healing process making implant failure more of a risk.