Dental Bridges vs. Permanent Implants: Making the Right Choice for Your Smile

Last updated Thursday, August 31st, 2023

Get a Customized Dental Bridge or Implant Based On Your Needs

A smile is a language everyone around the world understands and loves. A healthy set of teeth is the secret to a smile that makes a great first impression. So losing your teeth can steal your beautiful smile, and your ability to chew food properly, and sabotage your confidence.

It’s one thing to lose teeth naturally with age and another to lose them when you’re young by neglecting them. But it doesn’t mean you have to suffer for your mistakes all your life. It’s time to go beyond precautions and seek a dental intervention.

Dr. Mansoor has restored the natural smiles of patients who lost their teeth through the power of dental bridges and dental implants.

Dental bridges are false teeth that are supported by the teeth adjacent to your missing tooth. You can use them to cover a single missing tooth or fill in a wider gap in case of multiple missing teeth.

Dental implants are artificial tooth roots screwed into your jawbone like anchors. They are used as a support system for your new crown or dental bridge.

Dr. Mansoor will do an in-depth examination of your dental conditions and recommend the best treatment option based on:

• Your number of missing teeth
• Your overall health
• Your budget and time limitations

In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of each solution and help you pick the perfect option to fix your dental issues.

Dental Implants: A Lifelong Solution for Tooth Replacement

Your tooth is a lot more than its pearly white enamel.

There are bones, ligaments, and nerves connected to it. So if you lose one tooth, the neighboring area around it starts weakening too. Lose multiple teeth and you put your dental deterioration on fast forward.

A dental implant is like a new tooth root that creates a stable foundation for your tooth replacement. It’s shaped like a screw that is implanted into your jawbone. Eventually, new bone grows around the implant site and the implant fully fuses into your jawbone. Once your dentist determines it to be secure, a crown will be screwed on top of the implant.

It becomes a long-lasting solution that needs minimal repair for the rest of your life. Why? Because you’ve treated the problem from the root level.

Just keep up your regular oral hygiene routine to ensure the area near the implant is clean, and visit your dentist for a check-up every six months.

Advantages of Dental Implants over Dental Bridges

Here are the biggest advantages of dental implants over dental bridges:

• Implants require minimal maintenance and can easily last for 15-20 years
• They have a 97 percent 10-year success rate
• Implants maximize your chewing power because of their strong roots
• Implants do not affect adjacent teeth
• Implants prevent bone and gum loss
• Implants feel and function like natural teeth
• They can retain their natural-looking appearance for much longer

Dental Implants vs. Bridges: Costs and Considerations

Getting dental bridges is a faster and easier procedure than getting implants. However, it’s not a permanent solution and will need to be replaced within 5-7 years. Food will also build up underneath the teeth and has to be cleaned constantly. 

The American Dental Association reported that the average cost for dental bridges ranges from $500 to $1200. Getting a crown that attaches your tooth to its adjacent teeth will cost another $500 to $2500. On the other hand, dental implants cost between $3000 to $4500 per tooth and are not attached to any adjacent teeth and will be much easier to clean than a dental bridge. Both options will be covered with your insurance plan but its best if you call your insurance ahead to understand your coverage.

Here are a few important factors that determine the price of your dental bridges:

• Number of missing teeth you’re replacing
• Type of bridge
• The material used
• Procedure complexity and treatment time
• Location of the dental office

Dental Implants: Maintaining Healthy Teeth and Bone

When we say dental implants require minimal maintenance, it doesn’t mean you don’t require any oral healthcare for your new tooth. It doesn’t make your gums and the rest of your teeth disease-proof. You just have to stick to a healthy oral hygiene routine without worrying about doing something extra.

Make room for regular dental check-ups in your schedule so that there’s no room for decay or infections in your teeth. A well-maintained dental implant can last as long as 25 years. They’ll also prevent your bones and tissues from degenerating early by giving them a strong support system.

Neglecting oral hygiene can lead to infections or bleeding around the implant sites. It will accelerate bone loss around the area and eventually force you to remove the implant.

Dental Bridges: A Quick Solution with Potential Limitations

A dental bridge is an artificial tooth used to fill a gap between adjacent teeth. It is held in place by the teeth on either side of the gap. You can use a variety of materials like porcelain, zirconium, gold, and other resins for your dental bridge.

It’s a faster and cheaper solution to cover up missing teeth, but not a long-lasting one. You’ll have to get them replaced every 5-7 years. Dental bridges put pressure on your adjacent teeth and you may face more tooth decay in the surrounding area.

They also start losing their natural appearance over the years. So you may need to invest in some dental veneer work periodically.

Who Should Consider Dental Implants?

Here are some of the conditions that may qualify you for a dental implant procedure:

• You’ve reached adulthood and have a fully developed jaw.
• Your bone volume can adequately hold these implants in place. You may need to get bone grafting surgery to fix this issue before receiving your implant.
• You have healthy gums
• You have a great oral hygiene routine with no present infections
• You are not an active smoker or tobacco consumer
• You don’t have teeth clenching and grinding problems

Dental Bridges: When They May Be Preferable

Both dental bridges and dental implants have their pros and cons.

Only an experienced dentist can recommend the right option based on the following factors: 

• Number of missing teeth-depending on how many missing teeth, a bridge may not be strong enough to support more than 4 teeth.  
• Health conditions– You are not a good candidate for Implants if you are a smoker, has uncontrolled diabetes, had radiation to your head and neck, or have osteoporosis. 
• Time- Dental bridges can be installed within a couple of weeks. You may have to wait two to six months for your implant site to fully recover before getting the permanent crowns installed on top of the implants.

Dental Implants: The Preferred Choice for Long-Term Dental Health

Dental implants are as close as you can get to a real tooth – functionally and aesthetically.

They build the perfect support system for your jawbone, gum tissues, and your adjacent teeth. This prevents the area around your missing teeth from deteriorating. So you can cut down on a lot of unnecessary dental maintenance work over the next few years. They can easily last around 15-20 years with a basic oral hygiene routine.

Implants stand alone and don’t require any teeth for anchorage. 

Teeth Loss: Leading Causes and Consequences

Gum disease and cavities are the leading causes of tooth loss across the world. But who are the real culprits? It could be aging, poor diet, bone loss, smoking, or some other health conditions.

You can’t point a finger at them and escape the consequences.

Receding gums, cavities, and pain are some of the early warning signs Mother Nature gives us long before our tooth falls.

Here are some of the dangerous consequences of untreated tooth loss:

• Jaw pain
• Bone loss
• Sunken face
• Overgrowth of opposing teeth
• Trouble chewing your food properly and having acid reflux
• Spacing of adjacent teeth
• Periodontal disease
• Increased risk of hypertension, stroke, heart disease, dementia, and cancer

The Importance of Replacing Missing Teeth

Delaying your treatment only makes things worse. Removing your troublesome tooth isn’t going to end your problems either. When you lose a tooth, it affects the gum tissue, bones, and adjacent teeth supporting it.

Getting a dental implant will restore your perfect smile and a whole lot more. It increases your bite force to chew your favorite foods properly. It prevents bone loss so that your cheeks look supple and youthful for a long time.

Dental Bridges: Suitable Candidates and Considerations

Here are some of the conditions that may qualify you to get dental bridges:

• You lack one to three consecutive missing teeth
• Your adjacent teeth are strong and healthy
• You have a healthy jawbone density
• You have reasonably good oral health

Dental Implants Before and After: Transforming Smiles

You could be one appointment away from a picture-perfect smile. It’s a good sign when your loved ones check your new photos and ask you what filter you’ve used because they can’t believe how beautiful your smile looks now.

Are we overselling it? You decide! Check out our testimonials to see what customers are saying about their new implants.

But to be honest, you have to see it to believe it.

Here are a few dental implant success stories you should look into:

• A man with an infected root canal in his front tooth had to get it extracted. He received a beautiful porcelain implant and straightened his front teeth alignment with braces. He can finally bite into hard foods without any fear and smile wide for the cameras.
• A teenage girl had lost her front two teeth in a car accident when she was 13. She finally received two implants at 17 when her jaw had stopped growing. The dentist installed two crowns to fill this gap after a few months. This was the only dental treatment that delivered the results she was looking for.
• A patient who was born without two incisors finally got the smile he always dreamed of after getting two implants. He also got some simple orthodontic treatments to align his front teeth. Now he’s able to enjoy his meals and smile his heart out confidently.

What are the main advantages of dental implants over dental bridges?

How long do dental implants last compared to dental bridges?

Is the cost of dental implants worth the long-term benefits?

Are dental implants suitable for everyone?

Can dental bridges be a temporary solution before considering implants?

How do dental implants help in maintaining healthy teeth and bones?

What are the leading causes of tooth loss, and how can it impact oral health?

Will dental insurance cover the cost of dental implants or bridges?

What factors should I consider when deciding between implants and bridges?

Can you share some before and after photos of dental implant patients?