Are Implants Better Than Bridges?

Nobody wants to lose a permanent tooth. Whether you’ve lost one or more teeth due to extraction or trauma, the first step is clear. You have to replace them as soon as possible or risk the loss of your other teeth, too.

If you’ve lost significantly less than a full arch of teeth, then dentures are out as an option. Your two choices are a dental bridge that spans the gap with false teeth or individually inserted dental implants. 

While dental implants are the most natural-looking and functioning tooth replacement, they’re not for everyone. A dental bridge that attaches to teeth around the gap might be your best option and fit your needs.

At Miracle Smile Dental, our expert dentist, Nisha Modi, DMD, offers both dental bridges and dental implants. She helps you decide which best suits your current and future needs.

Do you need to replace a missing tooth or teeth? Read more to learn whether a bridge or an implant works best for you.

You are missing a front tooth

When a front tooth goes missing, it’s noticeable. You can’t smile without revealing your gap.

In most cases, you want to replace a missing front tooth with an implant since it’s the most natural-looking choice. However, if you’re not a candidate for implants (for whatever reason), we can also create the Maryland bridge (AKA resin-bonded bridge). 

A Maryland bridge doesn’t require the teeth on either side of the missing tooth to be filed down and fitted with crowns to secure the bridge. Instead, the false tooth has metal wings on its back, which your dentist cements to the teeth next to it.

You want to replace several teeth in a row

When you need to replace just one tooth, a dental implant may be your first choice, no matter your situation (assuming you’re a candidate). However, implants may become prohibitively expensive once you need to replace two or more teeth.

In such a case, you might do better with a dental bridge. A bridge is a great way to replace several missing teeth, particularly toward the back of your mouth. 

You want the most natural choice

The choice is clear if you want a tooth replacement system that looks and functions almost like your own tooth. A dental implant is an individually shaped, custom-designed false tooth attached to a titanium “root.”

We insert the root deeply into your jawbone, where it fuses during the healing process. Once it’s secure, we top it with a custom-designed crown that looks like an actual tooth.

In addition to looking more like a natural tooth than any other system, a dental implant is the only choice that functions like a real tooth. The titanium root puts pressure on your jawbone when you chew, just like a real tooth. That encourages your bone to produce new bone cells.

A dental implant, therefore, helps preserve your jawbone. No other system stimulates the growth of new bone cells. In fact, over time, bridges and dentures may lead to jaw atrophy. 

You are not a candidate for implants

Not everyone who wants a dental implant can have one. Because they’re implanted deeply into your jawbone, those bones must be robust, dense, and plentiful.

In some instances, if you lack sufficient bone, we can do a bone graft to build up your jaws so they can accept implants. However, that adds another procedure to your tooth replacement and months of healing time.

If undergoing a bone graft is too time-consuming or costly, then your best option is a bridge. A bridge only requires that you have two teeth on either side of the gap that can be modified to hold the bridge securely with attached crowns.

You can pay out of pocket

Your dental insurance probably covers the cost of a bridge. It probably won’t cover implants, which are considered a cosmetic rather than functional treatment.

Call us if you have questions about what your insurance will and won’t cover. We can also help arrange a payment plan if you decide on dental implants or don’t have dental insurance.

The best way to choose between dental implants and a dental bridge is to schedule a tooth replacement consultation by calling our team today at 469-765-3567. Or, use our convenient online scheduling tool.