Losing teeth in Ajax can be an upsetting business, impacting your smile’s appearance while creating functionality problems. When you lose even a single tooth, it’s important to consider replacing it as soon as possible, and the choices are likely either a dental implant or a dental bridge.
Both options will restore the missing tooth, ensuring you can smile confidently and eat comfortably, but each treatment works differently. Understanding the difference between a dental implant in Whitby and having a dental bridge is important.
What Is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant in Pickering artificially replaces a tooth, including the tooth root, with a small implant post made from titanium or zirconia. The post is implanted into the jawbone during a small surgical procedure, and new bone begins to grow on and around it quickly. Once fused in place, the implant is strong enough to hold a new crown, forming a strong, self-supporting structure.
What Is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge in Brooklin is supported by the teeth adjacent to the gap called abutment teeth. These must be substantially reshaped so they can be covered with crowns attached to a replacement tooth, called a pontic. The pontic is shaped like a real tooth, resting directly on the gum underneath.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Each Treatment?
The biggest advantage of choosing a dental implant in Oshawa is the protective effect on your dental health. Because it is self-supporting, there is no need for your dentist to reshape your teeth. Instead, the dental implant tooth helps support the teeth on either side, preventing unwanted movement and sharing the load created when you bite and chew food. The implant post also helps to stimulate the bone surrounding it, preventing bone resorption that is common after tooth loss.
Some people are concerned about the surgery needed for dental implant treatment in Newcastle, but it is very short, typically taking only an hour to place a single implant. We also provide a range of sedation dentistry options at Durham Dental Solutions, so there is no need to avoid this treatment because of fears and phobias. Most people are suitable for implant treatment, but it may not be right for everyone, so a full consultation is necessary to discover more about dental implants.
A dental bridge in Clarington may be a good option if the teeth adjacent to the gap will benefit from dental crowns, for example, if they have large fillings. Treatment can be completed more quickly than an implant, and the costs may be lower initially. However, a single dental implant can be more cost-effective in the long term than a three-tooth or three-unit bridge. This is because the implant crown or dental bridge will eventually need replacing, and it will be cheaper to purchase an implant crown than a three-tooth bridge. Another potential problem is whether the abutment teeth are strong enough to support a dental bridge, placing them under additional strain. Sometimes the abutment teeth are missing entirely.
Making the Right Choice
When you visit our dental practice, we can assess your dental health, review your medical health and listen to your desires for treatment. We can discuss all available options and review the costs and treatment processes. The aim is to ensure you have all the information you need to make an informed choice about your dental care. Our friendly dental team is very approachable, so please feel free to ask plenty of questions and to take the time needed to ensure you can decide on the right option to replace your missing tooth in Courtice.
