By Michael J Morris, DDS
February 12, 2015
Category: Dental Procedures
Tags: dental implants  

Both dental bridges and dental implants can replace a missing tooth. Both have their benefits and drawbacks, from cost, to time involved, to success rates. Whether a dental bridge or an implant is right for you will rely on many factors.

What is a Dental Implant?

An implant is multi-part procedure where the dentist first surgically implants a titanium post into the jaw bone. This post will need Dental Implantsseveral months to heal and fuse with the jaw bone. Then, the dentist will install a natural-looking tooth onto the post and your implant will be complete. It will look and function just like a normal tooth.

What is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is a process that uses the two existing teeth on either side of the missing tooth in order to attach a false tooth. The false tooth creates a bridge between your two natural teeth. The natural teeth must be filed down in order to accept the bridge, which can cause complications with those teeth in the future.

Cost of Implants vs Bridge

In the short term, the dental bridge is usually the less expensive solution. However, in the long term, the bridge may cause further damage to the surrounding teeth necessitating further restoration work. Dental implants cost more upfront, but can last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance.

Candidates for Dental Implants vs Bridge

In order to be a candidate for a dental implant, you must have healthy jaw bone that the implant can fuse to. If you do not have enough existing bone, a bone graft can be performed. However, not everyone is the right candidate for these procedures. Dental bridges require two healthy teeth on either side of the gap. If you do not have existing healthy teeth to attach the bridge to, you will need to consider other options to replace the missing tooth.

To find out which procedure may be right for you, consult a dentist who specializes in these procedures. Dr. Michael J. Morris of Spring, TX offers both dental implants and dental bridges to fit your situation. If you're interested in restoring your smile and your bite, contact your dentist about implants and bridges today.

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Louetta and Spring, TX Family Dentist
Michael J Morris, DDS
9318 Louetta Road Suite 600
Spring, TX 77379
(281) 379-6939
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