Dental Implants vs. Bridges

Many dentists agree: Dental implants are better than bridges. Traditionally, bridges were the solution to missing teeth. With advancements in dental technology, however, dental implants have replaced the need for fixed bridges.

A bridge is a fixed false crown placed between two natural crowns. Dental implants are made of titanium and are surgically implanted into the bone, where it acts like the roots of a tooth. Both techniques, when done properly, can give you the stability and strength of a real tooth.

The main advantage of a bridge is its faster procedure and less expensive initial price tag. It can be placed in two visits, within a period of one to two weeks. Dental implants, due to its intrusive nature, may take a period of a few months before it is completely healed.

However, dental implants offer many health advantages that bridges do not. Because dental implants bond to the bone, they can help prevent further bone loss. A bridge often requires the cutting down of other healthy adjacent teeth to help support the bridge structure. A dental implant avoids affecting the health of your other teeth and can allow more of your natural teeth to remain intact.

Although their initial cost is higher than bridges, in the long run, implants need less maintenance since they are immune to disease processes such as decay, fractures and nerve disease. Since there is no nerve disease, root canal therapy is never needed. Bridges often give rise to problems in the future. If decay, for example, occurs on one of the adjacent teeth, you may need a completely new bridge. Patients also find implants easier to maintain simply because it allows flossing between the implants. Bridges are more difficult to keep clean, which is essential to their longevity.

Dr. Theodore Ionescu has provided quality dental care in the community of Elk Grove for many years.

Dr. Theodore Ionescu - Elk Grove, CA Dentist