No matter whether you are missing a single tooth or multiple, seeking proper treatment is essential. The right solution will improve your quality of life by providing a fuller smile and provide support to your jawline and remaining teeth by ensuring that they stay aligned.
Two of the best solutions for missing teeth are dental implants and bridges. But what’s the difference between a single tooth implant and implant supported bridge? And how can dental implants support your adjacent healthy teeth? Rest assured, we have you covered. Here’s everything you need to know.
When a Single Implant is the Gold Standard for Tooth Replacement
A single implant is the gold standard for tooth replacement because of the benefits that it provides. With an implant, you’ll enjoy:
- Stability: With any replacement tooth, stability in your mouth is essential for maintaining a good quality of life. Implants are rooted in the bone, which gives great stability, no matter the foods that you are consuming.
- Comfort: Removable dentures often bring discomfort when worn, especially as treatment begins. Implants are a much more comfortable solution as they don’t move or rub throughout the day.
- Longevity: With the right care, dental implants offer a lifelong solution. The crown or bridge that sits atop may need replacement in time, but the implant itself promises longevity in the majority of cases.
- Support: Most dental clinics are able to replace two missing teeth with one implant, making it a desirable choice of treatment for tooth replacement.
Using Implants to Support a Bridge for Consecutive Missing Teeth
A bridge is a dental solution that’s used to replace multiple missing teeth in a row. In some cases, the bridge is anchored to your remaining teeth. But in other cases, it is instead supported by dental implants. In these instances, the implant provides an anchor by attaching to the jawbone, and the bridge sits atop. Using implants to support a bridge offers many benefits:
- Stability: Dental implants offer unmatched stability as they are anchored directly into the jaw instead of relying on neighbouring teeth for support. This better ensures that your bridge looks, feels and acts like a normal tooth.
- Bone Preservation: Missing teeth can often lead to complications such as bone degeneration. By using an anchor to support the bridge, it continues to stimulate the bone, which ensures preservation.
- Tooth Restoration: Traditional bridges often require your remaining teeth to be filed down and shaped so the bridge can fit securely. But by fixing to implants, this isn’t required, which keeps your remaining teeth healthy and intact.
Cost-Effectiveness: Single vs. Multiple Restoration Plans
If you struggle with missing teeth and are in need of treatment, it’s natural to look for the most cost-effective solution. For missing multiple teeth, dental implants and a bridge are often the best solution, provided your missing teeth are adjacent to each other.
This is because you can utilise implants to support more than one tooth. For a single missing tooth, the most common solution is for a dental implant and crown to be inserted. But for multiple missing teeth, your restoration plan will likely include dental implants and a bridge.
Protecting Adjacent Healthy Teeth with Implant Solutions
If you are looking for a solution for your missing teeth without causing damage to your adjacent healthy teeth, get in touch with the experts at Goldfields Family Dental. Specialising in dental implants, crowns, bridges and more, we’ll curate a treatment plan that restores your smile while protecting your remaining teeth.