Are Dental Implants The Best Way to Replace Missing Teeth?

Are Dental Implants The Best Way to Replace Missing Teeth? It’s becoming increasingly popular to replace missing teeth with dental implants in Watton. You may already know people who have had this treatment but is it always the best choice? We thought we’d take a look at the pros and cons of dental implant treatment in comparison with dental bridges, an option that has been successfully used for many years.

Why You Might Want to Consider Dental Implants in Watton

There are advantages in choosing to have dental implants, most notably the fact that dental implants help to preserve your jawbone, preventing its loss and absorption that normally occurs after natural teeth are extracted. Dental implants can also look amazingly natural, particularly when used to replace just a single tooth and it would be very difficult for anyone to tell the difference between the implant tooth and your own teeth. They are also a great long-term option that can be very cost-effective. Another thing to think about is that our dentist in Watton will not need to cut down healthy teeth, which is often the case with a dental bridge.

When Is a Dental Implant Not Such a Good Choice?

Not everyone is suitable for dental implants. You might be advised by our Watton dentist to consider another choice of tooth replacement if you have uncontrolled diabetes or another condition that affects your immune system and which could slow down healing, increasing the chance of implant failure. Dental implants are also less suitable for smokers who do not wish to quit as again this habit affects healing. However, most people can benefit from this treatment.

Why You Might Want to Consider a Dental Bridge

Dental bridges can be a fast and non-invasive way of replacing missing teeth. Bridges are supported with crowns that are fitted over the teeth either side of the gap and which are attached to the replacement tooth or teeth. Each of these replacement teeth is called a pontic. A dental bridge can be a particularly good option if the teeth to be crowned could really do with being protected and covered up, for example if they already have very large fillings or have lost a significant part of their structure due to decay or trauma.

When Is a Bridge Not Such a Good Option?

A bridge isn’t such a good option if the teeth next to the gap are perfectly strong and healthy, as this would mean dentist in Watton would need to remove healthy tooth structure. Once removed, this can only be artificially replaced and these teeth will always need crowns, even if you subsequently choose to have dental implants at a later date.

The risk with having teeth crowned is that the crowns can eventually leak, letting in decay-causing bacteria which may lead to teeth becoming badly infected. Dental bridges can also be more costly to replace than a single implant crown. All types of restorations need replacing every so often so it’s definitely something to consider.

We know it is a tricky decision for many people to make, but when you come to visit us at Together Dental Watton you will find our Watton dentist can discuss all possible options with you. The idea is for you to have all the information so you can make the right choice for your dental health.