Why a General Dentist May Recommend Dental Bridges Over Implants

Both dental bridges and implants are popular, effective tooth replacement solutions. However, there are cases in which a general dentist may recommend a dental bridge over implants. This may be due to the number of teeth missing, their location, and the strength of the underlying jawbone, among other factors. Understanding how each of these treatments restores the smile can help clarify why some patients benefit more from a bridge.

What are dental bridges?

As their name suggests, this restoration bridges the gap left by a single missing tooth. An artificial tooth, called a pontic, fills the gap, which will be anchored in place. With traditional bridges, the anchors are two dental crowns placed on the natural teeth on either side of the gap. Cantilever bridges require only one crown on an adjacent tooth. Maryland bridges, on the other hand, are anchored by metal wings secured onto the backs of the two adjacent teeth.

Why a dentist would recommend a bridge

A major benefit of dental bridges is that placing them does not require oral surgery. The general dentist only has to prep the supporting teeth, or abutment teeth, and cement the bridge in place. A dentist may, therefore, recommend a bridge for patients missing a single tooth who do not want or cannot receive oral surgery.

Further, bridges look like real teeth and work like them, too. Patients can chew and talk easily, knowing their tooth replacement will remain secure in their mouth.

The basics of dental implants

Dental implants are popular for their permanence and ability to engage the jawbone, preserving its shape. The design of this tooth-replacement makes this possible. Implants are metal screwlike posts that are placed directly into the jawbone, fusing with it to serve as artificial tooth roots. A dentist will then place dental crowns on top of the implants to replace the missing tooth or teeth. Note that a single implant may replace one tooth or several. The latter will involve strategically placing several posts throughout the mouth to replace up to a full arch of teeth.

Why a dentist may not recommend implants

While implants are a state-of-the-art restoration, they are not always necessary. It is easier on the mouth and jaw to replace a missing tooth surrounded by healthy teeth with a dental bridge because surgery is unnecessary. In addition, not everyone qualifies for implants. The patient must have sufficient jawbone density and volume to support the implants, and certain underlying health conditions, especially those that negatively affect healing, can cause implants to fail.

A third option: Implant-supported dental bridges

A general dentist may recommend a combination of dental bridges and dental implants: the implant-supported bridge. This restoration comprises a pontic supported by two implants on either end to replace three consecutive missing teeth. This gives patients the best of both worlds. They can replace most of their missing teeth with implants, keeping the jawbone engaged, and cut down on healing time by replacing the third missing tooth with a pontic that sits above the gum line.

The bottom line: Dental bridges vs. implants

Both implants and bridges provide a seamless, natural-looking restoration. Implants are effective in replacing missing teeth no matter their number or location. That said, patients must have a strong jawbone, meet other eligibility requirements, and be willing to commit to oral surgery and the somewhat lengthy healing process. Therefore, bridges may be a better fit for a patient who does not want to go through surgery to fill a gap left by either a single missing tooth or three missing teeth in a row.