Tooth loss is one of the most common signs of aging. Average states that over 69% of adults between the age of 35 to 44 lose at least one permanent tooth. Losing a tooth is a matter of concern as it directly connects with our looks and confidence. When you lose your teeth, you’ll come over multiple chewing, eating, and communication problems.
Therefore, it becomes necessary to replace the loss with an ideal replacement that keeps your teeth aligned. Such replacements can also help you maintain a proper facial shape and aid in speaking or eating. Two of the most common tooth replacement options are dental bridges and implants.
However, there seems to a great confusion between the two processes as users are confused with their options. Therefore, to help you understand better, this guide will be looking over the different aspects of dental bridges vs implants. Let’s get started!
Dental Implants vs. Bridges: The Definition
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that are generally made up of titanium. These replacements work like a false tooth and are mounted into your jawbone using screws. Such a setting is responsible for holding a bridge or crown in place.
On the contrary, dental bridges are more of false teeth that are replaced with your missing tooth. These replacements are generally made of materials like plastic or porcelain. This process can be used to cover either one or more teeth.
Now, to make the process easier for you, we’ve curated some advice from Dr. Taylor dental and sub-divided the article into different aspects. Let’s have a look:
Dental Implants vs. Bridges: The Difference
Cost
In case you have dental insurance, the chances are that it only covers the treatment expenses for a dental bridge and not an implant.
However, if you don’t have insurance and both the options are out of your budget, you can visit a dental implants Taylor dentist and discuss partial dentures or other practical options for tooth replacement.
Number of missing teeth
In case you’ve lost more than one tooth, you can opt for a dental bridge as it is more likely a practical option when compared to an implant. When you opt for a separate implant, they need to be surgically attached to your jawbone (for every tooth missing), making the process expensive.
Time
Applying a dental implant can be a time-consuming process, taking up to several months at times. On the contrary, you can install a dental bridge over two trips.
When opting for a dental implant, your dentist will drill into your jawbone and fix the implant’s root to your bone.
Overall, the process might take anywhere around 2 to 6 months as the bone will take some time to heal before you add a crown.
The Ideal Option?
Now that we know about the different processes, it can be summed up that dental implants are a more feasible option when compared to dental bridges. However, you need to be patient throughout the process and understand the pros and cons better.