Dental bridges Vs. dental implants

Losing a tooth or multiple teeth is an unpleasant experience. Thankfully, dental technologies and procedures have advanced over the years and there are many tooth replacements options that can restore the perfect smiles. The two most popular tooth replacement options are dental bridges and dental implants. You need to be familiar with these tooth restoration methods to help you pick the right one for you and get your desired results.

Procedures	Dental Bridge	Dental Implants
What are they?	An aesthetic prosthesis that bridges the gap between two or more natural teeth. A pair of crowns are attached to natural teeth on either side of the gap and an artificial tooth in between these crowns acts as a replacement for the missing tooth.	Composed of a titanium post that acts as a tooth root as well as a crown.
Are they fixed to your mouth?	While dental bridges will cover the gap where your tooth once was, they are not actually affixed to your jaw.	The titanium posts are surgically inserted into the jawbone and fuse to it through a process formally known as osseointegration. Once osseointegration process is achieved, an abutment is attached to the post-frame and dental crown is cemented or screwed on.
Treatment process	Since dental bridges are not affixed to the jawbone, putting them in does not require surgery. A dental bridge procedure can usually be completed in a few weeks.	The treatment process for dental implants is much more extensive. Multiple steps are required over a period of months to complete the procedure. This is because a dental implant mimics a natural tooth root and functions just like a real tooth would. Anchoring a titanium post into the jawbone requires surgery and it typically takes three to six months for bone to develop around the implant. Following the development of bone, a post is attached, at which point the surrounding gum tissue needs time to heal. This can take several more months, though it’s important to bear in mind that everyone heals at different rates.
Difference in cost	The dental implant procedure is much more complex than the dental bridge procedure, and it requires more time and attention to detail. As such, the cost of dental implants is typically much higher than the cost of dental bridges.
Long Term effects	While a cheaper price and less invasive procedure may seem like a more ideal scenario, it does come with ramifications. Dental bridges are not a permanent solution to missing teeth, and they typically last between 8 to 15 years on average, at which point they need to be replaced. Since dental bridges do not replace the root of your tooth, you may experience jawbone deterioration, which can greatly affect your appearance and oral health. In addition, the way dental bridges are put in place requires significant parts of the neighbouring teeth to be removed and, over time, your teeth can be more vulnerable to decay.	Dental implants, on the other hand, are a structurally sound replacement that can last for a lifetime and require very little maintenance. They don’t put any strain on surrounding teeth and the implant inserted into the jaw prevents any bone loss from occurring.