When a person suffers a missing tooth, it’s good to know that they have several options open to them. Of course the gold standard of treatment is a dental implant, but could a dental bridge do an equally effective job? The simple answer is yes and of course, it’s considerably cheaper, but is it really the best option? Should you choose a dental bridge or implant to replace a missing tooth?
The truth is that in the great dental bridge vs implant debate they both have their pros and cons. So with this in mind, the best thing to do is to dive into the practicalities of each to help you to make an informed dental decision.
Firstly dental bridges…
Conventional dental bridges have been used in dentistry for many hundreds of years. While the materials used may have changed, the principle remains the same. Adjacent teeth either side of the gap are reshaped to support a framework which holds the spanning prosthetic tooth. Once in position a dental bridge restores chewing function and completes the look of a smile.Now for the dental bridges pros and cons…
We’ve already mentioned that conventional bridges are cheaper to fit than dental implants and in many cases by as much as 50%. So initial spend is less. However the shelf life of a conventional dental bridge is usually only around 10 -15 years, whereas one of the main advantages of dental implants over bridges, is the longevity factor.