Bridge or Implant?
Posted in Benefits of Dental Implants Patient Questions on Dental Implants
« Maxillary Canine Implant | Patent Awarded For Tooth Replacement Technique »
Subscribe to this PostBatsheva, a dental implant patient from New York, asks us:
I am in my late 40′s, and am missing tooth #13, #14 is a root canal, and #12 is a healthy tooth. I look terrible with the missing tooth, but am very afraid of doing a dental implant.
I recently went to a top dentist in New York and asked him to make me a bridge. He told me that in this day and age it as absolutely ridiculous to have a bridge, and to shave down a healthy tooth when one can have a dental implant. However, I worry about the long term health ramifications of implants, i.e. the metal in the body, complications, etc.
Granted that for some people dental implants changed their lives for the better, and it all depends on the circumstances, but what is so wrong with a bridge in my situation? Is there truly such a huge benefit for dental implants over a bridge? Thank you for your response.
I am 17 years old and I have two missing lateral incisors. This is genetic and they never grew in.
I had braces for two years and have two open spaces where those teeth should be. I wear a retainer with two fake teeth in it but I want to fix the problem soon.
Like Octavio in the earlier post, i am young and i am starting college soon. I want to have good looking teeth for these years of my life.
This is why i am leaning towards getting bridges done.
My dentist is considering pulling out my front tooth (#8) as it has reabsorbed from an old injury. I had a root canal and apicoectamy 20 years ago, but now the tooth is very loose.
He is suggesting a bridge. My question is if I go with a bridge, and if it eventually fails many years later, do I have the option of an implant in area that has not had a tooth for many years?
Ze Martin, Go back and ask your dentist. I am sure he/she has a good reason for suggesting a bridge over an implant. I can tell you this, the upper front teeth are hard to treat for aesthetic reasons. I treated at least 85 cases in the last two years with implants for missing upper front teeth. These cases can be awfully simple or simply awful in degree of difficulty. Fortunately they all turned out well.
I changed my mind and opted to go for a flipper and start the implants
My daughter is 15 years old and has a baby tooth (lower central incisor) that have never come out.
She has had braces for two years and have opened the space where the tooth should be.
We are trying to decide whether to a place partial bridge or a small implant now. When is an adult, she will get a adult sized implant.
Thanks for your advice.
Judy F, Placement and restoration of an implant for a single tooth in the lower anterior region can be very challenging. If this were my child, I would give this careful thought, as you are at this time. I would consider the option that is least invasive, least maintance and has the best aesthetics. Sometimes placing and fertoration of dental implants can cause more problems than it’s worth!
Dear All,
First of all i find this forum very useful in clearing the doubts about Tooth replacement..
Here is my doubt,
Am 24yrs old now and i recently met with an accident and have lost 4 of my front teeth(upper layer)..
i had consulted to Dentists, one is asking me to go for a bridge while the other one suggests implant..
And I am very confused now…
Kindly suggest the best possible solution…
I have 13 implants in my mouth. I can honestly say I never felt better and more confident in my smiles, eating and tasting food properly. The implants feel better than my natural teeth which are covered by crowns. They are strong pain free, and looking good. This is the best alternative there is for missing teeth. I had bridges in my mouth for 30 years, they are heard to clean, brake often, and provide little support. You still strain your existing teeth to support your bridge, and believe me they hurt. I had burning pain at least 2-3 days of the week in my mouth before i got my implants. Now I’m pain free. Please don’t listen to the lies about nerve damage. If that’s the case its reversible. You will fill numbness right after the surgery and your doctor will fix it, no big deal. If you have the money don’t hesitate getting the best for your mouth and your smile. Good luck with that.
This form has been very informative to me as well. I went to my dentist and he said that I needed bridge work done on my top front two teeth and bottom molar tooth. He is a bit of an oldschool dentist so I am not even sure if he is good at implants or not. I spoke to my mother about getting bridges and she said she got one 10 years ago and it decayed underneath even though she tried to clean under it. She wished she went for implants and recomends I do the same. I am strongly leaning towards implants but a bit nervous after hearing a doctor talk about how hard the front two teeth are to do. Can someone explain the process to me as well. As far as I understand with implants first they remove your teeth, then give you dentures to fill the gap until 1 year later you can put in your implants? The reason I am concerned is because I am getting married in May 2010 and don’t want dentures in the photos. If this is the case I will get my front two upper teeth filled before the wedding just so they come down longer and then get implants on them after. I am actually not 100% sure why my dentist recommended bridges for them. Like they seem perfectly health but they just are shorter then the rest because I either grind them down or they chip in the sports I play.
Thanks,
Also, does anyone know of a really good dentist in Victoria British Columbia, Canada for implants?
I have many gum problems: disease, deep pockets, bleeding. In addition there are many other problems with my teeth: protruding, missing, darkened areas from a fall, and a number of loose teeth. I have read everything about bridges, crown, implants, etc. which has been very interesting. My dentists have prescribed implants and bridges. This involves a lot of work between periodontists and endodontists. The basic cost for this is $25,000. How one in this day and time can come up with that kind of money is beyond me. Right now, I only work part-time and have no insurance. It’s sad I can’t do anything about my teeth.
Diane, If you are going to keep some teeth, you have to get rid of all infection first (gum, root canal and extractions) then if you can keep things clean and keep dental infections away, then at this point you canconsider implants. Infectious teeth can ruin implant treatment. I am not saying this to insult you but these are the general rules of thumb. Bridges can and are still viable treatment options and are not as complicated as implants. However, implants can be a huge help inorder to improve function. Also, your habitual bite and chewing patterns have to be closely evaluated. The cost sounds reasonable to me. This is hard work and Rome was not built in a day!
Can anyone recommend a good dentist in Sacramento for implants? Thank you!
Due to a car accident I have fully lost my one central incisor and two lateral incisor of the upper jaw. Also the one remaining central incisor is partially broken. My dentist has advised me on the 6 set bridge from one canine to the other. I am aware of the burden of the pontifs placed on the abutment. So I am concerned about the 4 false teeth placing burden on the two canines. Please tell me if the bridge so formed would be good enough for most of the food and whether so big a bridge would actually decrease the age of the bridge.
i am contemplating getting a bridge..i want the implant but this is my major gripe about that..my insurance company wont cover my implant. ok fine i can pay out of pocket for this but what happens if the implant fails then what costs am i looking at and how much money and time and everything else am i out of. i think the bridge is only better because insurance covers it.so even if its replaced over and over so what insurance covers it and if other teeth are damaged because of it…yet and still so what insurance covers it. i would definately go with the implant only if insurance covered it and the possible complications i may have with it. thanks for all the stuff i read on here as well. i didnt know which decision id go with until i read some of the peoples comments on here. i think its wholey irresponsible for dentists to hype up implants when they know most insurance companies dont cover them most of the time and also for the fact that problems can arise and then people are left with more problems in the end. implants simply put are for people who can truly afford them.if you have to mortgage your house or get a loan to get them then in my opinion theyre not affordable because of possible complications that may arise.
I just had #14 pulled and suspect I will need the sinus floor elevation if I want the implant. which I thought I did.
The tooth was pulled after two root canals. The crown fell out after the first root canal (two years later)and the tooth got infected again. I had a second root canal but it never got crowneed. I had it pulled. Based on past sinus pain, I just assume I would need the elevation procedure.
I think now that I should have gotten the Apogectomy (sp?) and taken the chance it worked but what is done is done.
If $$ is not a concern, is the sinus floor elevation dangerous? Good success rate? painful? Once the sinus floor elevation is complete, is the success rate of the implant any different?
The tooth all the way to the left next to 14 has already been root canaled. The one on the right of 14 is fine.
Is a Bride a better choice here? Sounds like the implant is the way to go if possible but the downside risk seems significant.
I’m 41 -anyone have any thoughts? Much appreciated!
Reading this thread, I’m now very concerned about this decision.
Here’s a somewhat different question, and I’m sorry I don’t know the tooth number. I have a root canal that has failed (tooth behind the upper right canine) and my dentist is recommending an implant rather than a bridge because he doesn’t know if the adjacent tooth is strong enough to support the bridge.
I’m a classical singer by profession and there is the serious possibility that it could be put me out of work for a stretch. That, coupled with the possibility of requiring sinus lifting makes the idea of an implant frankly terrifying.
I know no one can predict how quickly I might recover from the implant procedures. Vocal mechanisms are a delicate matter and involve the jaw and sinuses, not just vocal cords and larynxes. Is there anyone that can give me a general risk assessment?
I haven’t received any sort of price quote yet- the situation was only just discovered- but I’m also worried that by getting an expensive procedure not covered by insurance I may be putting myself out of a job.
So advocates of implants- is it worth the risk?
Randall; Through the years I have treated a number of vocalist (even a Grammy Award Winner), all with no problems.
Just a short question: When I speak to my dentist ,must I ask for a spesific make of implants …or or the quality such that it matters not?Thanks.
I need a second opinion. I opted for an implant for #13 and had to get a bone graft done as well. It’s successful, healed and ready for the crown. However, now my dentist tells me that adjacent #14 is a little wobbly and may affect the implant. He suggests that I get a crown for #14 and bridge it to the implant for stability.
Wouldn’t the placement of the implant help stabilize adjacent teeth already? Do I really need this bridge? #14 only moves slightly when pressure is applied, but seems quite strong to me.
Borris: I would say that all implants are good. Some work better in certain situations than others. It is up to your doctor to decide.
My dentist told me that my sinus is to close for an implant. Is such a thing possible?
Tullio, This is a common situation. In particular if you are considerion replacing one or two teeth and you have a back tooth to work with. You have to consider the benefit vs. risk. Sometimes a bridge is an excellent treatment vs implant treatment. They are quicker, easier, cheaper and more predictable.
My friend broke my #9 tooth when I was 11, had root canal and bonding to make the tooth whole. The tooth turned black, that was great in High School
At 22 I finally got a crown.
It lasted about 10 years, until a piece of the old tooth snapped of near the bottom and crown fell out.
I did not want a bridge and there was still some tooth
left so I had a new crown made to fit the remaing tooth and had it re-cemented, against odds that lasted 10 years.
Then had it glued a third time, lasting almost another 7 years to my dentists amazment! I am very careful how I eat and brush!
Well the crown is loose again and my dentist is recommending an implaint, or a bridge with the #8 tooth and a crown on #9. I hate the idea of cutting into a good tooth which will need more repairs later. I also hate the idea for drilling into my skull for an implant and risk infections.
After reading this blog I am tempted to try for another 10 with my old crown and tooth. But in another 10 years if my old crown fails I doubt dental insurance will pay for anything more than toothpaste, if I have insurance!
(Also, by the way.. my job as software developer has gone to India, my teeth are not.)
My two front teeth are capped. one of them now has to be removed because of bone loss and an infection. The dentist suggests the 3-tooth bridge. Since the one tooth is already capped, the situation on that tooth would remain the same. And I have very frail tooth, the incisor on the other side is pretty much translucent. I’m guessing in this instance a bridge might be the best solution. That’s the plan at the moment. Any input. I appreciate all your help!
Has anyone had an implant done on tooth #29. I am terrified. How long does the procedure last, what, am I going to be toothles for 6 months? How long is the procedure, is it better to have complete sedation, anesthesia, does it hurt, swelling, I have had 4 wisdom teeth pulled in my late twenties, no biggie, but this terrifies me. Ideas. Thanks.
Hi I’d like to get your opinion about my dental decision.
I just did a root canal and crown on a front lower tooth #25, and now there is an Abscess on my lower gum and X-rays shows there is active infection around the tooth. My dentist told me that I need to have the tooth extracted and my option is either the implant or a Marilyn bridge. He said in order to do the marilyn bridge, he would extract the tooth and do some bone graft (add bone material?), and if for dental implant, he would just extract the bone and drill in the implant the same time. (I am concerned there is active infection, is this a good idea?)
Do you have professional opinion which option is the better ones to go with?
Or better yet, do you think there are any options other than the two above? Are there any way not to have the tooth extracted, say using anti-biotics?
Thanks in advance.
Will
My front upper left tooth broke and my dentist will pay for repairing it. The rest was pulled out and an implant was screwed up. However an infection was detected and my dentist promised to replace the implant with a longer one.
He has since been insecure. Soon he wanted to put on a bridge from my the front upper right tooth across the missing one to the other neighboring tooth. This neighboring tooth was getting lose and his next proposition was a bridge across four teeths, again starting from the same front tooth! All teeths have a crown but are all right. I have my doubts about a very curved bridge running across both front upper teeths and over the next two.
I have treee implants already which are fine but I am a bit bewildered. I need advice on bridges covering both front teeths and two more. I am seeing my dentist on monday when he returns from holiday. Best regards.
I had to have my two upper front teeth replaced due to internal resorption. I opted for dental implants because I didnt want to get a six tooth bridge and damage healthy teeth. The extractiona and posts were supposed to be done the first visit. What happened was that during the surgery it was determined that my bone wasnt thick enough and I was given a bone graft. No one even told me this! Now I have to wait five months for my mouth to heal, then go back in for the posts and wait another six months. Is it too late to switch to just having a bridge. A year is a long time to go without two front teeth.
Eric, I know it sounds like alot but these things happen. You could have a provisional Maryland bridge placed for service during the healing period. The doctor(s) are trying to do the right thing for you.
Eric, Dr Hughes is correct in his suggestions, but the answer to your question is that it certainly is not too late to switch to just having a bridge. Implants are wonderful, but if you have a good dentist using a good lab, a bridge is a time proven solution which can last a long time with proper cleaning and home care. I agree that a year is a long time to wait.
Ken, Thanks, I also agree with you. Many times a fixed bridge is the most correct way to treat. Also, using pink porcelain or acrylic is better than grafting.
This has been a great discussion to read and I hope someone will give me some advise as well. I’m an American recently relocated to Rio de Janeiro and facing some major dental work.
I’ve had a crown on tooth #9 (front left) since a child, now at age 38 a freak tooth bump apparently fractured the root. Two dentist here confirmed that the root will have to come out, and I’m facing either an implant or bridge.
I’m a bit worried about the timing, as I’d like to get these surgeries behind me, and a bit worried about price, because I’m getting quotes of about US$5,000.
I’m very worried about cosmetics, as the thought of having a indentation in the front of my face from bone lose is untenable.
Any recommendations or advice?
Thanks
AmericaninRio: The treatment and cost sound reasonable. Implant dentistry is a different game with a higher level of needed skills and knowledge.
I have a molar on the lower left side that has already had a root canal and a crown. The adjoining teeth on either side have also had root canal and crowns done. One of the crowns is gold and not the most esthetically pleasing. The molar in question had about 20% tooth holding up the crown and I bit on something frozen and broke about half of the remaining tooth. Seven months later, I have now broken it further. I have to wait until January to have full dental coverage. In this economy, thousands of dollars is a legitimate concern. I am not sure if the implant or implant repair would be covered. Under these circumstances, does a bridge sound like the more logical choice? I am 48 years old with a lot of dental work done and have had bad luck with teeth such as one tooth requiring 3 root canals. (infection and a possible metal fragment left in one of the roots and one of the roots not completely treated)
Drillng to install and remove implant tears away the bone, can puncture a nerve ending and lead to paralyization from head to toe.
rd, you must be another one of those non dental professional who hear some from someone(s) and believe it( them ) to be true. If what you are saying is correct, all the orthopedic patients who had plate or jiont replacement done must be laying on bed not being able to move. Also, if amalgam is that toxic as you say, dentists from 70′s and 80′s who used to handle them with barehands all should have MS , parkinson’s, and others that are claimed to be caused. Latex banned in Japan? Last time I was there for conference, they still use wide rubber bands to file things. You are saying that’s not latex? Where the heck do you get these info and then nerve to even post them without providing any clinical data or even research papers at least suggesting the idea? Everytime, a patient asks me why his previous dentist placed amalgam in their mouth, I ask them. How long has that been there and has it caused any damage so far? LOng time and no, anser usually is. Australia banned the use of amalgam classifying them as hazardous material then again, it’s the same organization that once claim laser reverse premature aging of hair follicles in male pattern baldness and help promote the products in public. Time will tell on amagam and implant or has that been already told but some people just want to challenge it for the sake of challenging it?
Sergio: Good points. There is alot of mumbo jumdo bullshit out there on the street.
I’m just going to put this out there. I have read all of the posts on the subject of implant vs. a bridge. I still have not decided what I want to do in regards to my case, and frankly feel the decision is not up to me. Here is my situation. I am 30 years old. I had 14 extractions 2 yrs ago. Instead of listing what teeth were extracted I will list which teeth I still have. I have 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, and 16 on top. #7 grew in very small and 10 never grew in, #16 had a filling and is quite weak in my perspective. On bottom I have 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28. My remaining teeth are crooked. I live in Germany and went to an orthodontist to see if I was able to have braces to straighten my teeth then get implants after for the missing teeth. Since I do not have most of my back teeth, he sent me to an implant specialist to have 4 screws put in to help anchor the braces. 2 on top on either side of my teeth and 2 on bottom on either side. 1 screw next to #4 healed properly and is ready, same with the screw next to #28 the other 2 screws have not faired well, they do not tighten and have been replaced only to not work again. At my last appointment she removed the screw next to #11, the screw next to #21, I removed over a weekend as it was so loose, I really didn’t have to do much for it to come out. She told me she needed to talk to my orthodontist to explore options and they would call me. I understand I have a long road ahead. Money is not the issue for me. They quoted me about 9,000 euro for both braces and implants which seems reasonable. I am a bit discouraged right now because the screws are not healing or tightening. Could that be a forecast for the implants to come? Would a bridge be a smarter option, and is it even possible? Since I speak English and my dentists are German there has been some communication issues.
My implant specialist also told me my bone on the mandible is thin.
First I think it is very interesting that this feed has gone on since 2006. Bad thing, I don’t have time to read through all of them.
I am in the predicament of implant or bridge. My bigger question is what are the risks of infection? The entire side of my skull is artificial and I must be very careful of infections.
I don’t know which way to go.
Am looking at implants vs bridge. I have had a front upper tooth missing since childhood. Had my current bridge put in when I was 22. I am now 45 years old and have an issue with the root of one of the bridge anchors being “blunted” (shortening at the root), and an infection is now in full bloom (currently on penecillin and vicodin). If I am to redo the bridge, the dentist recommends extracting the current tooth that is experienceing root blunting and infection, and using the all the teeth from one upper fang to the other for the bridge. A total of 6 teeth represented in the bridge with 4 real teeth anchoring the bridge (new filing of three teeth to achieve this). My main question is: If the current problem tooth is extracted, that would leave 2 missing teeth in front with one more adjacent tooth already filed from the current bridge. How would a dental implant(s) look for this situation? 2 full single implants with a new crown on the old filed tooth? Something different? Thanks a bunch.
This thread is just silly. Someone always has a cousin or buddy from work who had a bridge fall out or root canal that failed. Evidence based research shows that roughly 95 out of 100 implants heal without a problem, leaving 5 out of 100 that have an issue. Bridges also have issue such as healthy teeth now needing root canal treatment since they were ground down. Talk to a reputable dentist who discusses the risk and benefits of either procedure and make an informed decision. Doesn’t sound that tough to me.
Dear Batsheva,
Since you started this posting 4 years ago, I wonder what you decided to have done and how you like it? Would you make the same decision now, 4 years later?
I’ve had an implant in place since ’91, in the front lower jaw. Prior to that I had a Maryland Bridge. Even when I was 14 and had the bridge placed, I knew it made no sense to destroy the two adjacent teeth, which is why the dentist gave me the choice of the Maryland Bridge.
I waited until I was in my 20s (the bridge was loose) and implant technology became available. I went to a surgeon who placed it and had a dentist follow up with a crown. It’s still in place (currently in mid 40s, and on the second crown) and I can still remember how happy I was to have my mouth back after the bridge was removed. It also maintained bone, though recently my dentist has notices some recessing which is of concern, but what ever the issue is, if it comes down to it, I’ll go through restoration and refitting rather than destroy the two adjoining teeth.
I recently had two upper rear molars pulled and implants placed. I didn’t hesitate to go for the implants, based on my experience, and in this case since they were rear molars, it was implants or missing teeth. It’s been around a year since the crowns were placed.
I’m sure the possibility of complications always exist, but in my case I chose specialists and the results speak for themselves.
The other thing(s) I wanted to mention is BMP. IMO, a much better choice than bone grafting. It worked very well in my upper jaw, and I didn’t have to have a second surgical site or a sore knee. It’s expensive, but I feel it was worth it. The other mention is for gold, though I have porcelain in my front tooth, I have gold in the back and it feels totally natural, better than the porcelain.
Good luck with what ever decision you make!
Dear Implant Patient, I am pleased to hear that our profession has served you well. Take care.
You could have 4 implants, depending upon the situation. You could also have a fixed bridge. All of these are ok.
after reading these posts, I’m inclined to choose an implant in the middle, and crown the teeth on either sides. is this over kill?
Suz; It is OVER KILL. Why not just have a bridge made, if you want to crown the adjacent teeth. It is easier, cheaper, quicker and very predictable.
Help advice needed please. Have crowned molar on upper jaw (crown 30 years old – metal) This crown has now dropped because the tooth below was extracted 15 years ago. Because the crown has moved down the two teeth (adjacent to this molar and incisor) have large gaps at the top and one of them (next to incisor)has now broken.
Dentist wants to: extract crowned molar. Wait 8 weeks then put bridge across all three teeth.
I would like to know why he has to extract the crowned molar?
Can the bridge not fit over the molar (if he files it down). Or alternatively why cant I have two new crowns for the teeth and keep the dropped molar crown (which doesnt give me any problems anyway)?
Please advise. Thanks.
I could benefit greatly from a professional’s advice. I am 32 yrs old. I have had my 4 front teeth extracted on top as well as 4 front teeth extracted on bottom! I had extreme crowding. So I have a small space to work with. I have been wearing a partial on top and one on bottom for 4 years. I have saved up money and want implants. I have had a consultation for both a 6 unit fixed bridge on top and one on bottom, also consulted getting 2 implants on top with 2 teeth bridged in middle. 2 implants on bottom with 1 tooth in middle (due to small space). I don’t mind waiting for osseintegration. Speed is not my concern. Just longevity and health. Is this “esthetic zone” or smile zone a good place to rely on implants? Especially on top and bottom all in front?! I’m scared of bridges. they sound like extra damage and much more expected work to come, but am afraid that implants won’t be esthetically pleasing or able to function properly?!
I have read with interest the pros and cons for implants. My son is 17 and has several missing adult teeth, hopefully his baby teeth will remain for some time yet. We have been considering an implant for a missing bottom left molar but recently was told that because of his age his jaw will continue to grow for several more years and it is not advisable to have an implant until his jaw stops growing. Can someone tell me if this is correct as I have had conflicting views?
I am hoping to get some advice from both the professionals and the patient’s posting on the site. I am 48 (and passing through menopause), in relatively good health, despite being smoker of about 5 to 7 cigarettes per day. My number 8 and 9 (both upper front teeth) have root canals; one root canal had a file broken and left inside the root and that root canal has been treated twice or three times. Currently, it’s abscessed. I went to a dentist who offered me several options (bridge, bridge and implant) and said that implants were my best bet because the root canal with the file in it has been infected several times, i.e., that each subsequent time a root canal is done on the same tooth, the chances of it working long-term decrease. I had many accidents (equestrian) as a child and many facial injuries that weakened my front teeth, though I did not loose any of them. My question is: given my age, menopause (bone density) my history as a smoker and past injuries; are implants the best solution?
Hi! I also lost a tooth in an accident 4 months ago. The dentist thought it could be saved, but at the end he removed it (last week). The adjacent tooth was also damaged during the accident and I had a root canal. He says that due to this, the best option will be a bridge. My concern is that the tooth with the root canal is not very strong, so I am feeling that at the end, two other teeth will be used for the bridge, and these two teeth will also be damaged. I am deciding on going for the implant, as I am young and do not want to be fixing the bridge.
All these postings regarding bridge vs. implants and no one has a definitive answer. It seems theres a dentist on here answering questions and all i can deduce from him is that he’s an “implant” guy. So I ask humbly, can anyone tell me WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF GETTING A BRIDGE VERSUS AN IMPLANT? Can someone answer the question
I see that many are considere about getting a bridge or an implant. There are many things to take into consideration such as age and many other factors if one is to choose getting an implant. To be brief all go into pros and cons. First of all an implants can take up to 8 months and may include dozens of visits to the doctors. This is to ensure your body is taking foreign material well and that everything is in place as it should be. It is a rigiorous process because implants also require surgery to remove the nerve above where the tooth used to be given that its still there and to remove healthy bone, if still intact, in your gums. These are all rather negative aspects of implants. However in the long run your implants, if everything is well and its best to get them when your young for your body can recoperate better, are going to give you less problems and be more sterdy in the years to come. Theres also the having to make room for the metal which may or may not require “shving or taking away a few healthy srurrounding teeth and crwoning them to make them look “normal” again. Now looking at bridges. Bridges dont require surgey. So that automatically takes away needles, and dozens of visits for evaluation and to check the patients progress. Ofcourse youll return for a few to ensure stability. Bridges are meant to look and feel and chew like real teeth as are implants. However the downfall if your bridge becomes loose, which it may 5-10 years down the road, you might look into getting it fixed or having a new one done again. Bridges are also a good choice if you are of older age where your body wouldnt take implants very well. Combining all these factors one should look carefully at them and determine what route to take and if it is most benificial. I am 21 but have had the oppurtunity to have many years of formal education and I am going to get a bride done this friday. Wish me luck.
Pablo, the bridge is a reliable treatment. I had a 6 foot, 245 lb. Female consult with my office. she had a lower jaw that was protrusive (class III) and upper front teeth with spaces (diastamas) and a low inter incisor angle. She is not a candidate for a single implant to replace a single upper front tooth. In this case, since orthodontics and orthognathic surgery are not in her plans, then the only option and the best and most straight forward option is the fixed bridge and crowns. With this, she will obtain excellent and predictable aesthetics and function! There is a time and place for implants.
I am very confused in regards to whether an implant or a bridge is suitable for my case. I had a baby tooth and it had to be removed because there was some decay present therefore, now that it’s been a year and I haven’t been able to afford a bridge or implant the bone is missing in the area. My previous dentist told me that I had to get a bridge because my bone line is too low and my recent dentist suggested that i get an implant then when i saw his coworker who specializes in implants suggested that I get a bridge because there are a great deal of complications and intense amount of time and its a very difficult procedure to undergo. The dentist said if i got an implant that i would have to get bone from my hip or elsewhere on my body which i don’t have health insurance for and then it’ll take a yr to settle then after a yr i could continue the process. I do not want to make the wrong decision. what do you suggest?
The bigger issue is that the same thing is going to occur on the other side of my mouth. Both are lower
I have an abcess and received antibiotics. Dentist says tooth needs to come out – there is bone loss and that I will need a bridge (lower right side of mouth). My question is should I get a second opinion before my tooth is pulled? She did not mention root canal, I guess tooth is too far gone. This is a new dentist for me and I haven’t had a checkup in a few years. I am in my fifties and had many cavities as a child – so lots of fillings especially back teeth. But my concern is once tooth is pulled there is no going back.
I lost 3 front upper teeth 10 years ago, have had a flipper retainer with three false teeth since then. The accident which caused the loss of my three teeth also damaged my gum bone, so I am thinking about bridge work. I am just curious of any quotes of having a bridge to replace these teeth and any recommendations of good MD in or around the Denver, CO area. Also, side note… The guy that said his bridge hurt 3 days a week kind of freaked me out. I hope this is uncommon.
Please let me know what advice you have. Thank you. This forum gas been very comforting. Recommendations of bridge cost and doctor in Denver area would me much appreciated!