About Me

All About Implants

My teeth were starting to deteriorate, and I was running out of options to repair them. The dentist gave me a choice. I could wait until the bone loss was so bad that I would have to have my teeth removed and get dentures, or I could have them removed now and get dental implants. I opted for the implants. If you’re thinking of getting dental implants, you probably have a lot of questions. I love mine, but they took some getting used to. In this blog, I’m sharing my experience and all the information that I picked up throughout my implant experience. You can find out what the procedure entails, how to prepare for your implants, and how to care for them once they’re in.

Tags

Latest Posts

All About Implants

Bridges And Implants: 2 Replacement Options For Your Missing Tooth

by Alfredo Moore

If you have lost a tooth, you may be uncomfortable with the new gap in your smile. However, there are multiple tooth replacement options available to restore the appearance of your teeth. Here are two of them:

Dental Bridges

A dental bridge is a prosthetic dental appliance used to replace one or more teeth. The false tooth of a conventional bridge is situated in the center of the appliance, and there is a dental crown on each side of it. The fake tooth replaces your missing tooth, and the crowns are placed over the two natural teeth that border the gap in your mouth. 

Once the crowns are bonded to the natural teeth, the dental bridge, which is expected to last between five and 15 years, is stabilized in your mouth and can only be removed by a dentist. 

In some cases, there may only be one tooth adjacent to a dental gap. In those instances, a cantilever bridge can be installed. A cantilever bridge includes a false tooth and a single dental crown. 

Dental Implants

Of tooth replacement options, a dental implant is most like a natural tooth. A dental implant includes a prosthetic dental root and crown. The implant root, which is a titanium screw, is installed into the jawbone. However, before the crown can be placed, the screw must undergo a healing process called osseointegration in which the jawbone fuses with it.

Osseointegration takes a few months to become complete enough for a dental crown to be added to the implanted screw. However, once the screw is stable in the bone, an abutment or connector is attached, followed by a prosthetic dental crown.

Although a dental bridge or a dental implant can be used to fill a gap left by a missing tooth, a dental implant offers several benefits that a dental bridge does not. Here are a few of those advantages:

  • A dental implant stimulates the jawbone like a natural tooth root. The stimulation is caused by the bite pressure that is transferred to the bone each time you bite or chew.
  • A dental implant can serve as a support for other tooth replacement options. In fact, if a bordering tooth is missing and thus unable to act as a crown support for a conventional dental bridge, a dental implant can become a crown support in its place. 
  • A dental implant does not require healthy teeth to be damaged in the tooth replacement process. The teeth that act as crown supports must be debrided before the crowns are installed.

If you have lost a tooth, there are multiple replacement options available. Schedule an appointment with a dentist or office likeDental Services Of Rochester to learn which options are best for you.

Share