If you have a missing tooth, you might have thought you didn’t have many treatments at your disposal. But this is simply not true! You have multiple treatments available that can restore your smile, promote oral health and regain a highly functional mouth structure.
Two treatments you can choose from are dental implants or bridges. Both provide their own unique benefits yet either is more suitable for different oral problems.
If you have been considering either the best bridges or dental implants Melbourne has available, here are the difference between the two options:
Dental implants
This is a holistic treatment that comprises titanium posts which are then topped with crowns. They consist of two treatments, including:
- Having the titanium post inserted into the jawbone before being allowed to set;
- Having the crown placed upon the post.
Once this has been placed the treatment is complete, allowing the patient to go on with something that replicates a new tooth. Many people see this treatment option as superior to its bridge counterpart, as it can then provide added protection to the natural teeth from an area that was once exposed and susceptible to oral problems.
The benefits of this treatment include:
- Smile restoration: Many people who experience missing teeth often lose a lot of confidence in their smile. This treatment is one of the most effective for providing a natural oral aesthetic, one that can potentially restore the smile to the natural, glowing aesthetic it had before the tooth was lost;
- They can restore oral function: Typically, when someone loses a tooth, they also lose a lot of the natural function their mouth once enjoyed. Something that seems kind of innocuous can have big ramifications, as people with missing teeth have to eat differently to the past and some even experience changes in how they speak. This treatment can help restore the vital functionality that the teeth enjoyed prior to the tooth/teeth going missing;
- They are a durable, permanent solution: Unlike bridges, this treatment option doesn’t have to be removed at night, making them a permanent option that is incredibly comfortable for the recipient. What’s more, they are renowned for being a much more durable solution, with the high quality porcelain typically lasting 25 years to a whole lifetime!
- They can improve bone health: A person who loses a tooth is highly susceptible to experiencing bone density loss as well, as the remaining tooth doesn’t have the rest of the enamel to stop it from deteriorating and maintain its prior health. This treatment, therefore, can help restore some of that structure whilst preventing further bone density loss from occurring.
Dental bridges
Conversely, bridges comprise one or multiple false teeth known as “pontics”. Set between two crowns, pontics usually consist of porcelain fused metal (PFM) or ceramic and can be attached to implants or healthy teeth. If the final arch tooth requires replacing with a new bridge, a cantilever bridge can be installed to ensure this happens.
This option can be more suitable for where the teeth surrounding the now-lost tooth have pre-existing crowns, as they connect a literal “bridge” between existing tooth roots.
So, as you can see, both dental treatments have different benefits and are more suitable for different purposes, however dental implants are a much more comprehensive, durable and permanent solution, ensuring you always have something there to help restore your oral function without the need to take it out every night before bed and put it back in the morning.
