If you have missing teeth, there are a few cosmetic and functional restorations available to bring back your smile. Two popular restoration options for missing teeth in North Bergen, NJ are dental bridges and dental implants!

Both improve esthetics, oral health, and oral function. Each has distinct differences in durability, length of procedure, cost, and other important aspects. But why would you choose one over the other?

What Are Some Key Differences Between Dental Bridges And Dental Implants?

Single Tooth Replacement

There are different options for replacing one or two teeth. The right option largely depends on the patient’s needs and treatment goals. The primary options for replacing individual missing teeth include dental implants and dental bridges.

Dental Bridges

A dental bridge consists of one or more false teeth (called pontics) set between two abutment crowns. Pontics are usually made of ceramic or porcelain fused to metal (PFM). The crowns can be attached to healthy natural teeth or dental implants.

Dental bridges are an option in the situation where the teeth surrounding your missing tooth already have crowns attached to them, or could use crowns, as a dental bridge utilizes your existing tooth roots to attach the bridge that “bridges” the gap between the two teeth.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are composed of titanium posts that are topped with dental crowns. After the initial placement, the post fuses with the surrounding jawbone tissue through a natural process known as osseointegration.

Once the dental implant has integrated into a patient’s jawbone, a crown can be attached via a small metal device known as an abutment. Once placed, the implant is complete, and a new smile can be revealed once the area has been healed properly.

With dental implants, multiple or single teeth can be restored, which can be viewed as an advantage over bridges, since this eliminates the potential for damage to occur to neighboring teeth, which can also protect the jawbone. Dental implants are perfect in the situations where a patient is looking to protect their natural teeth surrounding the missing tooth.

Advantages of Dental Implants

Not only do dental implants provide a stunning new look and smile, but they can also restore tooth health and function. There are also several additional benefits and advantages associated with dental implants that should be considered, such as:

• Improved appearance – look and feel like the natural teeth.
• Improved speech – talk without worrying about if the implant will slip or not.
• Comfortable – the implant fuses with your jawbone which takes away the discomfort of removeable dentures.
• Easier eating – eat food with confidence and no pain.
• Confidence booster – helps you feel better about yourself by giving you back your smile.
• Improvement of overall oral health – existing teeth are not altered to support your new implants.
• Durable – implants can last a lifetime with the right type of care and they are exceptionally durable. It is suggested to see your dentist for routine check ups.
• Convenient – removes embarrassing inconvenience of removing dentures and the need for adhesive.

Multiple Teeth Replacement

As with single tooth replacement, there are several options for replacing multiple teeth. Dental implants are a popular option for replacing missing teeth and may be used to replace several teeth or a full set of missing teeth.

Dental Implants for Multiple Tooth Replacement

Dental implants may be paired with implant-supported bridges or implant-supported dentures to replace more than two teeth or a full arch of teeth.
When paired with dental bridges, the dental crowns used to attach the bridge within the mouth are attached to dental implants. This allows the replacement of three or more teeth using only two dental implants.
With implant-supported dentures, a set of dentures is attached within the mouth using as little as four or six dental implants. This makes it possible for denture wearers to enjoy a secure fit and improved dental function as their dentures stay firmly in place when eating and speaking.

Traditional Dentures

Of course, traditional dentures are still an option for replacing multiple teeth. Although traditional, removable dentures don’t provide the secure fit and improved function as implant-supported dentures, they may be the best option for patients who are not healthy enough to undergo surgery or who don’t want to undergo surgery.

Which Treatment Is Right for You?

To find out which treatment is right for your needs, request a free consultation with Dr Chithra Durgam and her team, experienced cosmetic and restorative dentists at Aesthetic Dental near Fort Lee, NJ, Edgewater, NJ, Secaucus NJ, Fairview, NJ and Manhattan, NY. Our multi-speciality team includes cosmetic dentists, periodontists and orthodontists to give you the smile you deserve.