Have you got a missing tooth, or teeth, and are considering your dental treatment options? If so, you are likely looking into whether to choose dental implants or bridgework, which are the two main options available.
There have been significant developments in the dental world over the last decade or two, greatly improving on the potential treatments for missing teeth, which is reassuring news for those who have been unfortunate enough to lose a tooth.
Whether you choose dental implants or bridgework, you can be assured of innovative technology and high quality dentistry in today’s practices.
Benefits of Bridgework
Dental bridges, also known as bridgework, consist of two crowns being inserted on the teeth, on each side of the missing one. These teeth are used as anchors, also known in dental terms as the ‘abutment teeth’, and are both connected to a false tooth in between. This is known as the traditional bridge which is often used, while it’s worth noting that other bridge designs also exist, particularly for when one of the anchoring teeth isn’t present to be utilized.
The false tooth or teeth can be made from a number of materials, such as porcelain, alloys, or even gold. Bridgework can help restore your natural smile, while also giving you the ability to chew in a distributed manner. This can often be a problem when confronted with a missing tooth, as your bite becomes affected, which is subsequently fixed by both dental implants or bridgework.
One unique advantage of bridgework, however, is when the neighboring teeth require crowns or large fillings anyway, as in these situations it can often make sense to choose the bridgework approach.
Dental Implants
While bridgework requires the use of neighboring teeth, a dental implant does not. Fixing itself directly through the gum, into the jaw, as an artificial root, when combined with a crown, it provides an alternative method of replacing a lost tooth.
Dental implants are generally a stronger and more durable option for replacing your missing tooth, with these rarely requiring any replacement or repair work.
Discuss With Your Dentist
Ultimately, reading online can only help you to a certain extent, with the most valuable information coming from your dentist.
With their detailed knowledge of your teeth, they are best positioned to advise on whether dental implants or bridgework will be the best choice for your particular situation.
