Cost-Effective Benefits of Dental Implants Over Bridges
Today’s options for replacing missing teeth include dental implants, removable prostheses, permanent bridges, and at Center for Oral Surgery and Dental Implants, we know dental implants are the superior solution. What makes a dental implant the best choice for many patients? It’s the long-term value that ensures implants are worth the initial investment, and we’ve broken it down here to help you make a decision that best fits your needs.
What’s a dental implant?
Dental implants are a permanent and sustainable solution in which we attach a replacement tooth to a highly sophisticated, engineered root replacement screw that is placed in your jawbone. When you lose a tooth, the jawbone begins to break down, or atrophy. We replace that missing tooth with an implant that integrates with your jawbone and halts its deterioration. Once fully fused and secure, the implant is ready for your dentist to attach the crown. What sets implants apart is their ability to function within the jawbone, preserving the bone structure and acting just like a natural tooth.
When you amortize the cost of an implant over a lifetime, it is far less expensive than replacing a bridge which needs to occur every eight years. Our patients unanimously agree that implants have dramatically improved their lives and that the initial cost is minimal compared to the long-term benefits they’ve experienced. Should a patient need to have more teeth replaced, they will always choose implants.
What’s a dental bridge?
Dental bridges attach to the teeth spanning a gap that’s created by a missing tooth. Once the adjacent teeth are shaved down and prepared, a bridge with an artificial tooth is cemented in place. A bridge does not support or preserve the bone at the missing tooth site, therefore the jawbone continues to atrophy because there is no root or implant within the bone. In other words, not only do you lose part of your permanent teeth because they have to be shaved down, you may lose more teeth due to bone atrophy.
Maintaining Jaw Health
One of the greatest benefits of dental implants is the way in which they support both your gums and jawbone. Implants provide stimulation to the jawbone to keep it healthy and robust. When you lose a tooth, the jawbone immediately begins to atrophy, which means there is a likelihood that other teeth will shift, break and fall out. Once we place an implant, it serves as the new tooth’s root. With a restoration tooth (crown) in place, the movement caused by chewing resumes and stimulates the bone and jaw, giving it strength and vitality.
Ensuring Durability
Implants act just like natural teeth with a solid attachment to the jawbone. As a result, our implant patients never worry about slippage or embarrassing moments while eating or laughing. Patients with bridges risk recurrent decay and the need for root canal treatment of the involved teeth. Therefore, bridges are not as durable as implants and, while fixed to natural teeth, are considered temporary.
Extending Lifespan
With proper oral hygiene, implants can last as long as natural teeth. Thanks to advanced technology, implant success is very predictable—you can expect your implants to last. Over a lifetime, it is far less expensive than a removable partial or fixed bridge that needs replacement about every eight years, whereas implants can last a lifetime. The durability and longevity of dental implants make them the most cost-effective option for tooth replacement in the long run and the only near-natural approach.
Talk With Our Surgeon
There’s no question that implants are an investment in your oral and physical health. Come in for a consultation to speak with Dr. Valiente. His team will provide a range of fees according to your needs and as recommended by our surgeon. We know that implant dentistry is not a one-size-fits-all type of treatment, and we value designing and executing individualized treatment plans that deliver optimal results for each patient in our care. Schedule an implant consultation with us today!
