Posted on May 11th, 2022

Dental implants and bridges replace a missing tooth, prevent missing-tooth issues, and retain the beauty of a smile.

What Are Dental Implants?

A Dental implant is a process where the dental surgeon inserts a tooth into a person’s jaw. Dental implants can either be temporary or permanent.

Types of Dental Implants

Endosteal implants: These are dental implants that are surgically inserted into the jawbone.

Subperiosteal implants:  These are metal frames that are attached to the jawbone immediately beneath the gum tissue.

Pros of Dental Implants

• Helps in restoring the shape of the face
• Keeps the adjacent tooth from decaying
• Helps in improving the person’s self-esteem and smile
• Helps in preventing the shrinking of the jaw due to teeth loss

Cons of Dental Implants

• Installing dental implants is a long, costly, and time-consuming process.
• Dental implants sometimes cause injuries, infections, and bleeding.
• Not everyone can have dental implants depending on the density of the jaw bone.
• The healing period for dental implants is longer than most other procedures.
• Dental implants may sometime affect the nearer muscles, nerves, and sinus cavities

What Are Dental Bridges?

A dental bridge is a prosthetic that restores teeth's appearance and function. A dental bridge consists of one or more artificial teeth that can be used to bridge the gap.

Types of Bridges

A traditional fixed bridge is the most prevalent type of bridge. On either side of the pontic, there is a crown(s).

A resin-bonded bridge is what front teeth are frequently replaced with. It uses porcelain or metal frameworks with "wings" glued to the backs of your teeth on either side of the gap instead of crowns.

An Implant-supported bridge is like a fixed bridge except that the pontics are held in place by dental implants instead of crowns attached to healthy teeth.

Pros of Bridges

• Retains the smile and shape of the face
• Restores the speaking difficulties due to teeth loss
• Prevents the shifting of adjacent teeth into the empty space

Cons of Bridges

• Bridges cannot withstand future damage.
• The crowns may change shape and affect the shape of the teeth.
• If the crowns do not fit well, plaque could form.
• Bridges are not as durable as implants.

Visit Bell Dental Care, 16106 Bellflower Blvd, Bellflower, CA 90706. To learn more about our dental treatments and to have a full dental checkup, call (562) 920-9220 and schedule a consultation with our dentist.