Dental implants are highly recommended when it comes to replacing missing teeth. They are the only oral prosthetics that replace teeth and their roots. Other prosthetics like dentures and bridges simply replace the visible part of the tooth.
Implants are surgically placed in the patient’s jaw and left there to fuse with surrounding bone tissues. The process is called osseointegration, and it makes dental implants virtually as stable as natural teeth. A crown is placed on the implant to replace the lost tooth. The crown transfers bite forces through the implant into the patient’s jaw, preventing the bone tissue loss that takes place when teeth are lost. This bone tissue loss can lead to noticeable changes in a person’s facial structures, leading to a sunken look and wrinkles forming around their mouths. Implants are the only oral prosthetics that preserve bone tissues in the jaw when teeth fall out.
There’s just one problem. Implants also happen to be one of the more expensive ways to go about replacing teeth. The cost of a single implant can be more than a complete set of dentures or a dental bridge. Implants are often combined with other teeth replacement options to help reduce the cost. The patient still gets the bone-preserving properties of implants while paying considerably less.
A dental bridge is a restoration that is used to replace multiple teeth right next to each other. The restoration is typically anchored down on the two teeth closest to the gap (abutments), while the artificial teeth (pontics) attached to them close the space created by the missing teeth.
Using the natural teeth closest to the space left by missing teeth as abutments requires removing enamel from their sides so they can be fitted with crowns. It is a permanent alteration that can never be reversed, so these teeth will always need to be covered with a crown moving forward.
Implants can be used as abutments for bridges, removing the need to damage healthy teeth structures. The implants are inserted at the ends of the gap in the patient’s mouth, and they fuse with surrounding bone structures via osseointegration.
These implants are then fitted with crowns that serve as supports for the dental bridge. The artificial teeth that make up the bridge are made from an impression of the patient’s teeth. The impression is sent to a lab where technicians make dental bridges. It takes roughly two weeks for the customized pontics to get back to the clinic.
The patient comes into the clinic once their bridge is ready, and the abutments serve as its base. It keeps the bridge stable in the wearer’s mouth while preserving bone tissues in the jaw. The patient gets a set of artificial teeth that look real.
Have you lost multiple teeth next to each other? You might need an implant-supported dental bridge. Call or visit our Coral Gables clinic to set up an appointment with our dentist.
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