Implants vs Bridges and Crowns
Fountain Valley, CA
 Tooth loss has a major impact on every aspect of your life. Even losing just one tooth can have serious consequences. Things that were once simple, like eating and speaking, suddenly become more challenging. The appearance of your smile and your confidence diminishes. Your healthy teeth can shift out of their natural positions, altering your bite. When this happens, you may be faced with other issues such as bruxism, excessive tooth wear, and jaw pain. At Bijan Family Dental Practice, we can help to restore the health, function, and appearance of your smile with bridges and dental implants.
Dental Bridges
A bridge is a dental restoration that is designed to replace one to three missing teeth. This restoration consists of your replacement tooth and two dental crowns, which surround the artificial tooth on both sides. The function of the crowns is to hold the bridge securely in place by anchoring on to your adjacent healthy (abutment) teeth. Bridges are typically made from ceramic, a material popular for its ability to mimic many of the properties of natural enamel, including color and light reflection.
Placing dental crowns takes two visits. During the first visit, the abutment teeth are prepared. Much like preparing a tooth for a regular crown, enamel is removed from each tooth, creating the room necessary for the bridge to fit properly in place. Impressions are taken, which are sent to a lab and used to create your custom fit bridge. On your second visit, we secure the bridge in place using a special dental cement.
Pros and Con of Bridges
Benefits of bridges include:
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Bridges are one of the more affordable options available for tooth replacement.
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The process for getting your restoration is fairly simple. We only need to use a local anesthetic when preparing the teeth.
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Only two visits are required. |
There are also a few drawbacks:
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Perfectly healthy teeth need to have enamel removed from them.
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While bridges replace missing teeth, they cannot stop the bone loss that naturally accompanies tooth loss. This means that the bone will continue to deteriorate. You may need to be refitted for a new bridge after a while. |
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a newer option for replacing missing teeth. They consist of three major components: the implant, the abutment, and the crown. The implant itself is a small titanium rod that is surgically inserted into the jawbone. It relies on the fusion of your jawbone to the titanium, a process known as osseointegration. When this happens successfully, the implant becomes a strong, stable “root.” The abutment is the connector that is placed on top of the implants and connects the crown with the implant. The crown, usually made from ceramic, is your actual replacement tooth.
Implants require a surgical procedure. A local anesthetic is used, and sedation may also be used as well. Incisions are made in the gums and holes drilled into the bone. The implants are then placed, and your gums sutured closed. Temporary teeth are placed until you heal, and then the process of getting your replacement teeth begins.
Pros and Cons of Dental Implants
Dental implants have several benefits:
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Greater comfort (your teeth are supported by the implants rather than your teeth and gums).
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Preservation of adjacent teeth.
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Implants stimulate the jawbone, which helps to maintain the health of your jawbone. |
Cons of dental implants include:
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They require surgery.
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Depending upon the number of implants, healing can take several months. |
Replacing missing teeth is essential for giving you back a healthy, beautiful, fully functional smile. For more information, and to find out which option is best for you, contact Bijan Family Dental Practice at (714) 421-4494 today.
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