Dental Implants Vs Bridges – What You Need To Know

When visiting the Allbright Dentistry in Houston you may be given the option to replace your missing tooth with a dental implant, or a bridge. In order to determine which option is best for you, you’ll first need to learn the facts behind each procedure!

What Is A Dental Implant?

A dental implant is a sterile, surgical grade titanium post that’s inserted into your jaw. It recreates the anatomical root of your missing tooth. The implant is surrounded by threads that help your bone fuse to it and keep it sturdy.

Depending on the tooth being treated during the dental implant process, you may first have to remove your tooth and then allow the area to heal before inserting the replacement. Also, once the implant is inserted, time will be necessary to allow the integration process between the bone and the threaded implant. This can take a matter of a few months.

Once the implant is stable, our Houston dentist will connect a piece on top of it, called a locator attachment, which is used to support the new tooth (dental crown) in place.

What Are the Pros and Cons of a Dental Implant?

When taken care of properly, a dental implant has the potential to last for life! They’re highly predictable and stronger than natural teeth. Since there is no tooth to decay, developing cavities isn’t a concern. The biggest precaution you should take is doing what you can to prevent gum disease from developing. The downfall is that implants can cost a little more up front and take a longer amount of time to complete.

A dental bridge is a prosthetic restoration that’s custom made at a dental laboratory. Essentially, a bridge is three crowns that are connected together. The outer “teeth” are hollow shells that fit over the natural teeth on either side of the open space in your mouth. On the bridge, a solid crown is suspended to replace the tooth that is missing.

In order to get a bridge, our Houston dentist has to first remove your troubled tooth and trim the adjacent ones down. This helps to make room for the restoration to fit properly. In some cases, the bridge will take a couple of weeks to fabricate, so you’ll wear a temporary one in the meantime. Once the permanent restoration is completed by the lab, you’ll return to our Houston dental office for us to remove your temporary and seat the permanent bridge.

Dental bridges can last a long time, but they do require some care to ensure that the natural teeth underneath don’t become infected. Bridges are faster to complete then dental implants, but some dentists and patients don’t like the idea of trimming down natural teeth – especially is there’s nothing wrong with them.

At Allbright Dentistry in Houston we can help you decide which tooth replacement option is best for you. When visiting our office for a consultation, we’ll be sure to answer all your questions and address any concerns you may have.

If you’re interested in replacing a tooth with a dental implant or bridge in Houston, give us a call today. We look forward to meeting you!