Dental Implants VS Bridges

Your teeth are essential to how you smile and are always a part of your look. But when you’re missing a tooth or two, it can damage your smile completely. It’s especially at its worst when you’re missing your front teeth. And this loss doesn’t just affect how you look, either. It affects your overall health, as eating can be more uncomfortable and/or difficult when you’re missing your teeth. 

If you are missing some teeth and want to fill the gap in your mouth, then worry not. At the Practice Poly Clinic Dubai, we offer world-class services in orthodontics. To replace your missing teeth, you’ll probably be looking for an implant or a bridge. However, making the choice between these two may seem like a daunting task. We’re here to give you the pros and cons of both to help you pick out the best option for your teeth. 

What Is an Implant?

An implant is a 3-step solution to gaining a new false tooth. While we haven’t reached a state of technology where an entire tooth can be regrown, the false tooth acts as a nice substitute. 

During the implant procedure, your dentist will do the following:  

1. Place a post into your jawbone. This post will act as the false root to the new tooth. 
2. An abutment will be put in place to serve as the false tooth’s foundation. 
3. The false tooth will be added, and voila, you have a new tooth. Nobody will be able to tell the old tooth from the new one, not even your body. 

With that being said, dental implants have their pros and cons. Knowing these is important to the decision you’ll make in the long run. 

Pros of Dental Implant

Getting a dental implant can be worth it for a lot of people. At the end of the day, it’s simply fixing a greater problem with your teeth without creating many more. Here are some of the pros of getting an implant: 

• Implants last a very long time. At a minimum, your implant should be stable for 15 years. If you practice good hygiene, though, it could last a lot longer.
• Implants have a very natural look. The only thing out of place about them is beneath your gums, therefore out of sight and out of mind. 
• Dental implants won’t damage any of your natural teeth.
• They make chewing and eating a whole lot easier. The extra tooth can go a long way for you.

Cons of Dental Implant

While we could sing the praises of dental implants all day, it’s important to consider that they aren’t perfect. And to top it off, they’re not for everyone. It would be unfair of us to only speak of the good of them without warning you about some of the negatives.

• Implants take a long time to implement. A single tooth can take upwards of 6 months to fully cement into the jaw. 
• Dental implanting is also a very expensive procedure that is not always covered by insurance policies.
• Despite the high success rate of implants, there’s always that off chance that you may suffer an allergic reaction to one. This can lead to further health complications.

What Is a Bridge?

A bridge is technically an advanced form of an implant. Whereas implants only focus on one tooth, bridges are meant to substitute for multiple teeth. In a way, they’re similar to dentures, but they don’t act as a replacement for every tooth in your jaw. In their main function, they’re virtually identical to dental implants. Dental bridges are also made from different materials compared to implants. Usually, it’s either porcelain or plastic, colored in such a way that it matches up with the rest of your teeth. 

Pros of Bridge

While implants can be highly beneficial, you may not be in the market for one. Maybe it’s because you’re missing more than one tooth, or you want a better overall look. Here are some of the benefits of getting a dental bridge.

• Bridges don’t require invasive surgery. For the most part, they slot right on.
• The upfront cost of getting bridges is much lower than that of an implant. 
• The time taken to get a bridge is far less than that of an implant, usually around 2 weeks. 
• Compared to implants, there are many options for the type of bridge you can get.

Cons of Bridge

Dental bridges aren’t strictly better than implants. They have their host of problems to contend with that may ultimately make you rethink your decision.

• Bridges don’t last as long as implants. Usually, they’ll last 5 years, maybe a little more if the material is good. 
• Bridges can damage the surrounding teeth due to being slotted onto your teeth.
• Over time, they will lose their natural look.

Which Is Best for You?

Your optimal procedure is dependent on your teeth and your preference. If you’re willing to pay the extra price for an implant, then we’d suggest getting it. However, if you can’t cover the final cost, then try going for a bridge. If you’re missing multiple teeth, a bridge will also be that much more worth it.

But if you want a semi-permanent false tooth, then we would recommend getting an implant. If you take care of it, then that implant will last you quite a long time. At The Practice Poly Clinic, we provide professional dental consultancy and other cosmetic dental treatments. We’ll help you find the best way to get the results you’re after.