A Dental Implants vs Bridges: What’s Better, Pros, Cons

A dental implant or bridge is the first treatment methods that come to mind for those who have tooth deficiency. However, patients are often undecided whether an implant or a bridge should be preferred. There is no definite answer to this question. Because implant and bridge treatments are functional tooth deficiency treatments when used properly and correctly. Our patients need more detailed information about these two treatment methods and examine their differences, advantages, and disadvantages.

We should also add this important reminder immediately: when choosing between an implant and a bridge, it is useful to act according to the recommendations of a specialist dentist after the examination.

Dentavita Dental Clinic works to protect your oral and dental health with its expert dentists in Sarıyer, Istanbul. If you want to learn the most accurate and suitable treatment methods for you, you can contact us.

Dental Implant vs. Bridge

Implant and bridge treatments are different applications that should be decided according to oral health, jaw structure, and problems experienced. In implant treatment, screws that mimic the tooth root are used, while in bridge treatment, the complementary prosthetic tooth has no connection with the jawbone. It is most accurate to decide whether to have an implant or a bridge in line with our dentists' recommendations. The advantages, disadvantages, and differences of these two treatments, which we will discuss in the rest of our article, will help you decide.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Dental Implant

The tooth implant, which is very popular in filling the missing tooth, stands out in terms of both aesthetics and comfort of use. In this treatment, the place of the missing tooth is based on the principle of placing implants similar to the natural tooth root into the jawbone. A dental crown is placed on the implant, successfully miming the natural tooth root. Porcelain, zirconium, or emax and empress coatings are used for implant prosthesis coating. This way, you will have a brand new implant tooth that you can use like your teeth.

Advantages of dental implants:

• Titanium implant screws are screwed into the jawbone and fuse with the bone over time, replacing the tooth root.
• The implant tooth provides the closest comfort of use to the natural tooth.
• The implant filling the gap in the jawbone prevents bone loss in this area. It eliminates problems such as tooth loss and jawbone fracture in advanced ages.
• It can be applied without damaging the neighboring teeth.
• It is very robust and long-lasting.

Disadvantages of dental implants:

The most important disadvantage of implant treatment is that its price higher than traditional bridge treatments.
• The treatment period is long. Implant application requires at least 2 months.
• Graft application may be needed in patients with insufficient bone volume. This also increases the cost.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Bridge

In classical bridge treatment, the teeth in front and behind the missing tooth form the basis of the treatment. The neighboring teeth are used as carriers, and the missing tooth is replaced by placing a prosthetic tooth between the two intact teeth.

Advantages of the bridge:

• The cost is lower than implant treatment.
• It does not require an advanced surgical procedure.
• Bridge treatment can be completed quickly, and discomfort during the healing process is minimal.
• The bridge method can be applied in patients unsuitable for implant treatment for health reasons.

Disadvantages of the bridge:

• In order to perform the bridge application, abrasion must be made from the intact teeth on the sides of the missing tooth.
• Although the application life is long, it is shorter than the implant.
• Cleaning and maintenance require a little more care.
• Since there is no root part of the prosthetic tooth, there may be melting in the jawbone over time.

Implant vs. bridge

The main difference between an implant and a bridge is that in the implant method, an artificial tooth root is obtained by inserting a screw made of titanium into the jawbone. The crown is directly supported by the jawbone in the implant and can be used like natural teeth. In the bridge, on the other hand, the prosthetic tooth has no connection with the jawbone because the bridge is placed on the healthy teeth on the sides of the missing tooth. Therefore, there is some abrasion of the intact teeth in bridge treatment. Apart from this basic difference:

• The cost of the implant is higher than the bridge.
• The life of the implant is longer.
• While surgical procedure is performed in implant application, it is not performed in bridge.
• While the implant treatment period is 2 months or longer, this period is much shorter in the bridge.
• When there is volume loss in the jawbone, the implant cannot be performed, but bridge application can be performed.

Implant or Bridge? How Should I Decide?

As mentioned in our article, implant and bridge treatments have different advantages and disadvantages. If you are at the crossroads of "Implant or bridge?" remember that the first condition for you to be satisfied with the treatment you will receive before making a decision is to work with a reliable dentist. Therefore, making this decision without expert support and receiving treatment in the wrong hands may result in frustration. Our expert dentists can help you decide which treatment suits your situation best. Only make an implant or bridge decision after consulting Dentavita Dental Clinic. Consider the following points when making a decision:

• Cost:Dental implants cost more than bridges.
• Time:While implant treatment requires 2 to 6 months, a dental bridge can be completed in a few weeks.
• General Health:Implant treatment is a surgical intervention. Therefore, it may not be a good option for patients with chronic conditions that slow healing.
• Number of missing teeth:As the number of missing teeth increases, the number of implants needed also increases, increasing the cost.
• Functionality:The implant tooth provides the closest comfort of use to the natural tooth, and the treatment is carried out without damaging the neighboring teeth.