Implants Can Do What Bridges Can't

The gap left behind by a missing tooth needs to be filled with something. If the space is left open, the teeth on either side of the gap can gradually move and throw off your bite. That can lead to damaged teeth and difficulty chewing. You have several options for filling that gap, from dentures to bridges to implants. It's common for people to ask about bridges because they don't like the idea of oral surgery for an implant. However, an implant has a lot of advantages over a bridge. While a bridge is simple, it doesn't quite substitute for the missing tooth.

Implants Mimic the Tooth Root

First, implants mimic not only your tooth but the tooth root. Technically you have a special screw implanted in your jaw, and a crown placed over that. That means the implant provides a permanent block to the adjacent teeth moving around. Bridges can be "permanent" in the sense that they are cemented in, either with brackets placed on the backs of the surrounding teeth or special crowns cemented on top of the surrounding teeth. However, those can break off, especially if the bridge is the bracket type.

You Can't Lose an Implant

If those bridges can break, then they can fall out. Implants won't do that. Yes, technically something could happen to the crown, but the screw isn't going anywhere as long as your jawbone stays in good shape. Should something happen to the crown, you merely need to get another crown. If something happens to a bridge, then you need to get to the dentist as quickly as possible to have it fixed lest the teeth on either side of where the bridge was start to move.

Implants Are Easier to Care For

Dental care for bridges is a bit different from regular at-home oral care. You can't floss between the bridge and the surrounding teeth unless you use a threader under the brackets or around the crowns on the adjacent teeth, and you'll also have to floss under the bridge just above the gums. That can take some getting used to. With an implant, you floss and brush as usual and have to be careful about removing food around the base of the crown, but it's not that different from regular flossing.

No one likes the thought of oral surgery, but the results are worth it. A dental implant is a much better choice for tooth replacement if you want something secure that will mimic the original tooth as closely as possible.

Contact a local dentist to learn more about dental implants.

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