Is there a gap in your smile that you want to fix? Dental surgery can help.
Dental procedures can feel scary, and thinking about dental bills isn't too fun, either. That's why many people put off dental procedures.
But your health, your budget, and your smile are better off when you don't delay dental care. Education and finding a good provider are key to overcoming dental health inertia.
Wondering whether you should get an implant or bridge? Looking for the perfect dentist's office in London to cater to your needs? Read on to learn more.
Why Should You Get a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is a piece of material that covers the gap where one or more teeth are missing. Dentists ensure the bridge stays in place by attaching it to adjacent teeth. Bridges can be made of porcelain, metal, plastic, or alloy.
Because of their lower upfront cost, dental bridges are more likely to be covered by insurance than dental implants. Getting a dental bridge is a relatively simple procedure; even though it takes several appointments, patients are usually finished and healed within a few weeks.
Why Should You Get A Dental Implant?
Dental implants, unlike bridges, involve the jawbone. Dentists drill a titanium post into the jawbone to replace the missing root. After the jawbone heals and fuses to the implant, the dentist attaches an abutment and a cap.
Dental implants are highly durable. While dental bridges typically need replacement within ten years, dental implants have a 97% ten-year success rate.
Finding The Best Option For You
So you're looking at tooth replacement, and you can pick between bridges and implants. Which should you choose?
The London dentist at Galleria Dental Centre believes that implants are often the better option. However, several factors shape the best choice for your individual situation.
Oral Health
To install dental bridges, dentists must remove healthy enamel on adjacent teeth. The bridge itself places further stress on these teeth. Bridges also introduce "gap" spaces that are difficult to keep clean.
If you're already worried about tooth decay and gum disease, bridges can exacerbate those problems over time.
That's why dentists recommend especially strict homecare routines with bridges.
The main dental health concern for implant surgery is jawbone health. If you have severe bone loss, there may not be enough healthy bone to install the implant.
Readiness for Surgery
Dental implants usually only need local anesthesia. But if the implant has a complication such as a bone graft, the dentist may use general anesthesia. Dental implants can only be completed if your jawbone is healthy enough to heal around the installed implant.
If you have a condition that makes surgery more complicated and healing difficult, your dentist may recommend against implants.
Cost
Dental bridges used to be considered the most affordable upfront option for tooth replacement, hands down. But as implant technology improves, that cost gap is shrinking. For some people, costs are essentially equivalent.
It's important to consider long-term costs as well as upfront ones. Dental implants require less maintenance. They don't compromise adjacent teeth or your overall oral health.
In short, you may be saving money on lifelong dental care with implants even if the upfront cost is higher.
Aesthetics
Dental implants install the missing tooth without affecting adjacent teeth. That makes the crown material stand out less than dental bridges, which cover larger visible areas in your mouth.
Choose your Dentist's Office in London, Ontario, with a view!
Staying up looking through listings for "dentist's office London"? Stop looking today. Galleria Dental Centre offers top-of-the-line dental care. Bonus point? We are located Downtown London and our seats have a beautiful view!
Interested in improving your health and your smile? Contact us today to learn more.