Dental implants vs bridges

About implants vs bridges

At Bupa Dental Care, our dentists offer several ways to replace missing teeth and give you back your natural smile. An initial assessment with your dentist will help you decide which is the best solution for you.

Two popular options for replacing missing teeth are implants and bridges. There are a few key differences between both treatments.

Type of treatment

A dental bridge, as the name implies, bridges the gap where a tooth once was. It involves replacing a missing tooth with a false tooth which is bonded to your natural teeth on either side of the gap. The diagram shows how a bridge is fitted.

An implant, on the other hand, consists of a titanium screw that’s fixed into your jawbone and topped with a replacement tooth, also known as a crown. It’s also possible to have an implant-supported bridge, which involves placing a bridge on top of implants to replace multiple missing teeth in a row.

Implant or dental bridge?

Visibility

Dental bridges aren’t embedded beneath your gum, so there’s a chance that the structure of the bridge may be slightly visible behind or in between your replacement teeth, although your dentist will make the bridge look as natural as possible. It can take a little while to get used to the feeling of a bridge in your mouth, but after a while, they should begin to feel more comfortable.

Existing teeth

Implants may be a preferred option if you want to avoid causing any damage to your existing teeth. When you have a bridge fitted, your dentist may need to cut your natural teeth on either side. Dental implants can take as much pressure as a natural tooth because they’re embedded into your jaw, while dental bridges spread any pressure to the adjacent teeth, which have usually been cut or filed down to support the crowns.

Jaw health

Jaw health can be another factor to think about when you’re considering a tooth replacement. When you lose a tooth and its root, the teeth on either side of the gap can ‘lean’ into the space that’s left, which can cause bone loss. A dental bridge secures the adjacent teeth and stops them from shifting, but, unlike an implant, it doesn’t have a screw placed into the jaw to fill the socket of the missing tooth, so a bridge doesn’t prevent bone loss over time.

An implant functions like a real tooth with a root and your jaw will remain strong as you age, preventing bone loss which can impact your face shape.

Wear over time

While implants can last as long as natural teeth if you look after them well, a dental bridge can weaken over time due to this pressure and the fact that the supporting teeth have been filed away. A dental bridge will eventually require restoration treatment, but you can ensure it lasts for many years by looking after it well.

Procedures

Dental implants

Implant treatment is usually carried out in two stages. In the first, the implant is placed into your jaw. This usually takes place under local anaesthetic in your local practice. Implants can only be placed in bone that’s dense enough to hold them. If your jawbone doesn’t have enough volume, your dentist may be able to treat the problem using a bone graft.

The second stage of implant treatment, when the crown is attached, is usually done three to six months after the implant itself is in place. This gives the bone time to regrow around the implant before the crown is added.

If you’re looking for implants that can be placed in fewer visits, we also offer smile in a day treatment at some of our practices, which is a method of replacing multiple teeth sometimes known as ‘same day implants’.

Dental bridges

People might choose to have bridges because, in some circumstances, it’s a less complicated procedure than implants. The density of your jawbone isn’t a factor and you’ll usually need fewer visits to your dentist.

During your first visit, your dentist will file the adjacent teeth next to where the bridge will be fitted and take an impression of the site so that a mould can be created. Then they’ll use the mould to create a bridge that matches your own teeth. At your next visit, your dentist will anchor the bridge in place and check that your bite is correct and comfortable. This is done under local anaesthetic so that you don’t feel any pain.

Costs

A dental bridge is usually less expensive than a dental implant as it can be a simpler procedure that requires fewer visits to the dentist.

Dental implant treatment usually takes longer than a bridge and requires a healing period before the final crown can be fitted on your implant. This means you’ll need more appointments with your dentist, making it more expensive than a bridge. Implants are also made of high-quality materials. The implant fixture and abutment (a small post attached to the top of the implant, which supports the false tooth) are made of titanium, and the crown is made from ceramic or porcelain to achieve a natural finish.

Aftercare

Whether you have a bridge or an implant, you’ll need to take good care of it, both after the procedure and in the long-term.

Flossing can be a little harder with a bridge, but your dentist will give you all the instructions you need to be able to care for it properly.

Suitability

Dental implants may not be recommended if you smoke, have had radiotherapy to your jaw area, or have diabetes that isn’t well-controlled. If you suffer from gum disease, your dentist will help you treat it before a dental bridge or implant can be placed.

Remember, each case is different, so speak to your dentist who’ll do a full clinical assessment and discuss your treatment options with you.