What is the difference between dental bridges and implants?

Answer 1

Implants are individual crowns that have a screw or post that is imbedded in your actual bone. These take up to 6 months to complete with the surgery and healing time needed before placement of the crown. They also demand good bone for the surgery to be a success. They are expensive with few failures, and most patients really love them. Implants also require the crown and the post be cleaned daily with brushing and flossing. They do not come in and out of your mouth and are considered to be an excellent restorative measure.

The bridge, does not come in and out either. A bridge is usually 3 or more crowns that are fused together with one or more teeth being a pontic or fake. It requires two or more abutment teeth to be prepped down for crowns, these will be used to hold the pontic or fake tooth, keeping it stable and fixed in the mouth. This too is considered to be an excellent choice for dental restoration. A three unit bridge is expensive but not as expensive as one implant procedure, this is the reason they are used most frequently. The pontic or fake tooth looks real and rest on the tissue so there is not a gap under it making it unoticable to others when you smile. Most patients really enjoy having theirs as it restores their function in mastication. The main problems that occur are when patients don't floss and brush regularly, and throughly up under the bridge especially at the abutments. Although a tooth is crowned, decay can still form under the gum line thus requiring the removal of the bridge to restore the tooth, and in most cases the remaking of the bridge is required.

There is more information on each of these with this being an overview of each. Hope I've answered your question and given you enough information to guide you in a direction which is best suited for you. Just check with your dentist, they will be glad to go over and show you models of each. Good luck with whichever method of restoration that you choose.

Answer 2

Dental bridges usually involves two or more teeth and have to be removed every day (or overnight) to clean them.

Dental implants, on the other hand, usually involve one tooth and are designed to be screwed in over a metal post. Yes, there is more chance of infection with implants then there is with a dental bridge, but with proper care your chance of getting an infection are almost nil.

Dental implants are also significantly cheaper when you're talking about one tooth, but if you have more than two teeth that need replacing, a bridge would be your best and usually are most cost-effective bet.

Answer 3

for the bridge...it may replace one or 2 teeth...under a condition there must be good and hygenic teeth in the neighbouring teeth...
an implant can replace any number of teeth...

Answer 4

Dental bridges are removeable and need daily cleaning
Implants are screw ins and subject to infection