If you have missing teeth, there are a few cosmetic and functional restorations available to bring back your smile. Two popular restoration options for missing teeth in St. Johns, MI are dental bridges and dental implants!
Both improve esthetics, oral health, and oral function. Each has distinct differences in durability, length of procedure, cost, and other important aspects. But why would you choose one over the other?
What Are Some Key Differences Between Dental Bridges And Dental Implants?
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge consists of one or more false teeth (called pontics) set between two abutment crowns. Pontics are usually made of ceramic or porcelain fused to metal (PFM). The crowns can be attached to healthy natural teeth or dental implants. If the last tooth on an arch needs to be replaced with a bridge, a cantilever bridge can be attached with a single abutment crown.
Dental bridges are perfect in the situation where the teeth surrounding your missing tooth already have crowns attached to them, or could use crowns, as a dental bridge utilizes your existing tooth roots to attach the bridge that “bridges” the gap between them aesthetically and functionally.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are composed of titanium posts that are topped with dental crowns. After the initial placement, the post fuses with the surrounding jawbone tissue through a natural process known as osseointegration.
Once the dental implant has integrated into a patient’s jawbone, a crown can be attached via a small metal device known as an abutment. Once placed, the implant is complete, and a new smile can be revealed once the area has been healed properly.
With dental implants, multiple or single teeth can be restored, which can be viewed as an advantage over bridges, since this eliminates the potential for damage to occur to neighboring teeth, which can also protect the jawbone. Dental implants are perfect in the situations where a patient is looking to protect their natural teeth surrounding the missing tooth.
Are You Considering Dental Bridges Or Dental Implants?
There’s no doubt that dental restoration procedures are a great way to reveal a new, luscious smile for you. Whether through dental bridges or single dental implants, your new smile awaits you!
Contact our doctor, Dr. Mark Connelly, in our office by St. Johns, MI to get started on a plan to achieve your best smile yet, so schedule your consultation today!
