What are the advantages of dental implants over dentures and bridges?

[Dan 41]

Hi

I have a missing tooth at the front and I have been thinking about getting something done to replace the missing tooth. My dentist has given me the options of having a bridge, a denture or an implant.

I know that all of these options involve different treatments with different cost implications. The dental implant option seems to appeal to me more than the other two options at the moment. I would like to know What are the advantages of dental implants over dentures and bridges?

If I have a dental implant, how long will it last? If I go for the dental bridge option how long will that last?

[Dr Vahid Motahar]

Hi,

Thank you for your question.

One of the very early systems in dentistry has been to make dentures to replace missing teeth. This has been present for thaousands of years. Then in more recent histroy of dentistry, bridges developed and dentists have been able to replace missing teeth by means of bridges. Then even more recently the technology for dental implants developed.

The difficulty with dentures is that it usually has a large piece of plastic or a combination of materials to replace the missing teeth. Has a poor patients compliance and is uncomfortable and in many cases non-functional. So no wonder 50% of the people with dentures never use them.

Bridges were a big improvement on dentures were it was possible. But the problem with bridges is that one way or another it uses the adjacent teeth to create support for replacement of the missing tooth. Hence in a lot of cases drilling of the adjacent teeth and cutting the teeth down which is detromental to them. Also on average the only last about 7-10 yearsn and studies has shown that long term they are a more expensive option than even implants.

Implants are the best options for replacing missing teeth simply because they do not invole the use of adjacent teeth, they resemble natural teeth (ie no plastic to replace the tooth) and are the strongest option we can offer our patients these days.They are not without their disadvantages, but are the best choice without doubt in most of the cases if not all.

It is difficult to say how long your treatment will take because it depends on the bone level and whether bone grafting is needed. In the large majority of the cases, in our practice impolants are completed within 3-4 months. I suggest you to come for a free consultation and assessment.