Learning Things about Implants and Bridges
This week, we will learn about implants and bridges. This corner will present what they implants and bridges are and how they can help improve dental health.
Dental implants are a series of dental procedures with the aim to recreate a missing tooth.
An important part of a dental implant is the initial titanium implant which is placed in the original tooth’s alveolus or bone pocket.
Dentists know that titanium works well with the bone and forms a bond with it after some time, just like the original bond between the original tooth and the patient’s jawbone.
This is quite important as dental implants are used to prevent bone loss that may occur with some other type of bone replacement procedures.
Dental implants are usually being capped with a dental crown, as the crown replicates the visible portion of a tooth.
In various cases the replacement tooth will work just like the original tooth.
On the other hand, a fixed dental bridge is a prosthesis that is non-removable, which is attached to remaining original teeth.
The false tooth bridges the gap between natural teeth that remains in a patient’s mouth.
Fixed bridges used to be the best alternative for patients who had lost teeth, as bridges are quite successful and pleasing aesthetically.
However, bridges may lead to some problems as the natural teeth that lie on either side of the bridge are often getting filed to accept the bridge.
In a way, the filing step in the bridge-making procedure could lead problems and will make teeth prone to bacterial plaque, decay, periodontal disease, and the possible need for future root canals, which can be daunting.
In some aspects, a bridge may be more economical as an implant is costlier.
However, in the long run, a dental implant is more cost effective and known to be a better treatment option for those who need tooth replacement.