Losing a natural tooth can cause large disruptions to your life. This can affect your confidence, the way you chew your food, and cause misalignment in the teeth around the gap. Missing a tooth can also change the way your bite works, and lead to bone loss in the jaw over time. There are two main options to replace a missing tooth using modern dentistry. These are a dental bridge and a dental implant. Both are effective at restoring function, however the methods are very different.

Below we have explained the differences in detail to help you make the right choice for your smile

Dental Bridge vs Dental Implant – Which Is Best for You?

  • The main difference between a dental bridge and an implant is how they are fixed in place.

Dental Implant

  • A dental implant is a stand alone restoration.

  • A titanium post is implanted by a dental specialist into the jaw bone.

  • Over a period of months the post will bond with the bone.

  • Once healed an abutment and porcelain crown will be fitted.

Traditional Dental Bridge

  • A traditional bridge is held in place by the teeth either side of the gap.

  • The adjacent teeth will need to be permanently altered by your dentist to allow crowns to be fitted.

Cantilever & Maryland Bridge

  • Cantilever bridges are a type of bridge that only uses one adjacent tooth to hold the restoration in place.

  • This makes it suitable for areas of the mouth where there is less bite force.

  • Maryland bridges use tiny metal or porcelain wings to hold the restoration in place.

  • The wings are bonded to the back of adjacent teeth meaning less natural teeth will be cut back.

Dental Implants vs Bridges for Better Jaw Bone Health

Natural teeth transfer pressure to the jaw bone through the roots. This tells the body to keep the jaw bone strong, dense and full.

Bone Health with Implants

  • The titanium post will replace your missing tooth root.

  • This will mean natural pressure is transferred to the jaw bone.

  • This stops any bone loss occurring, keeping your jaw bone at its original height and your natural facial structure.

Bone Loss with Bridges

  • A bridge does not have a root and sits above the gums.

  • This means bone loss will occur in the jaw bone below the gap.

  • Over time this can cause a gap to form between the bottom of the Artificial tooth and the gums.

  • This will create problems with your appearance and will cause food to get stuck.

How Dental Bridges and Implants Protect Natural Teeth

Protecting as much natural healthy teeth as possible is a key part of modern dentistry.

Natural Teeth

  • Dental implants will not affect your natural teeth.

  • Whereas a traditional bridge will cause a lot of damage to the adjacent healthy teeth as they will need to be filed back.

Risk of Decay

  • The material used for implants cannot decay.

  • However bridges can cause secondary decay.

Load

  • Implants only transfer the load to the post and jaw bone.

  • Whereas bridges put the whole load from the missing tooth onto the adjacent teeth.

Dental Bridge vs Implant: Longevity and Overall Value

Consider the longevity of each option.

Longevity

  • Dental implants have a high success rate of over 95%.

  • The titanium post will last you 25 years + with correct oral hygiene.

  • The ceramic crown may need replacing/maintained occasionally after 15-20 years.

Shortening

  • Bridges will generally last between 5-15 years.

  • The cement can begin to break down, material can wear and the anchor teeth can be prone to decay.

Value

  • Although implants are more expensive initially they are great value for money over the course of your lifetime.

  • They are durable, have a low chance of causing secondary issues and are permanent.

Comparing Bite Force and Aesthetics of Dental Restorations

Having a natural feeling restoration is important.

Bite Force

  • Implants will give you around 80-90% of your natural bite.

  • The implants are fixed in the bone so you can confidently eat hard meats, crunchy vegetables and sticky foods.

Limited Bite Force

  • Bridges do give a good amount of bite force, however the force from the artificial tooth will cause the anchor teeth to feel the pressure.

  • You need to be careful with very hard foods.

Aesthetics

  • Implants look completely natural as they grow from the gum line, whereas bridges are great for aesthetics initially.

  • However over the course of a few years it can be difficult to match the artificial artificial tooth to the changing gum line and jaw bone.

Oral Hygiene Differences Between Bridges and Implants

Keeping your mouth clean will stop harmful bacteria from growing, causing bad breath and gum issues.

Easy Hygiene

  • Implants are easy to clean.

  • Just brush twice a day with a soft bristle brush, floss between your teeth and attend regular check ups and cleans.

Specialized Hygiene

  • As the teeth holding the bridge in place are fused together you cannot floss between them using regular floss.

  • You will need to use special floss threaders, inter-dental brushes.

Plaque Build up

  • If you don’t clean below your bridge daily food will get stuck causing bacteria to grow.

  • This will cause bad breath and gum issues.

Dental Bridge vs Implant: Treatment Time-frame Explained

The time-frame will depend on what option you choose.

Bridge

  • A bridge will take very little time to complete as there is no surgery involved.

  • This will generally take 2-3 weeks to complete across 2 appointments.

Implants

  • An implant will take longer to complete as it will involve a small amount of surgery.

  • The jaw bone will need to heal for 3-6 months.

Bone Graft

  • If you have suffered from bone loss your dentist may suggest having a bone graft done.

  • This will ensure the implant post has a firm base but will increase the time frame.

Dental Bridge vs Implant: Which Option Should You Choose?

Choose a dental implant if:

  • You want a permanent solution that protects your natural teeth.

  • You want to protect your jaw bone volume and facial aesthetics.

  • You want a simple oral hygiene regime.

  • You want the most bite force.

Choose a dental bridge if:

  • You want a non-surgical option.

  • You want something completed quickly (2-3 weeks).

  • You suffer from medical conditions such as poorly controlled diabetes or active auto-immune disorders.

  • You want something completed quickly with a tight budget.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Bridges and Implants

Are bridges faster than implants?

Yes. A bridge can be completed in around 2-3 weeks. Implants will take longer to complete due to the multi stage process. This can take 3-6 months to complete as your jaw bone needs to bond with the titanium post.

Does getting an implant hurt?

No. Local anesthetic or sedation will be used to ensure you are comfortable. Most people report little discomfort for 2-3 days after the implant. This is easily managed with over the counter pain killers.

Can bridges fail?

Yes. Bridges can fail due to the anchor teeth developing deep cavities underneath the crowns, gum Disease destroying the bone or too much bite force causing it to break.

Can I replace my old failing bridge with an implant?

Yes. Many patients will have an implant fitted once their old bridge fails. If there has been a large amount of bone loss underneath your old bridge your dentist can complete a local bone graft to give your new implant a strong base.

Final Thoughts on Choosing a Dental Bridge or Implant

Overall it will depend on your current oral health, jaw bone density, budget and how quickly you would like the treatment completed. Implants give you a personal, permanent solution that protects your jaw and teeth long term. Bridges give you a reliable, non-surgical solution. Book a diagnostic appointment with your dentist. They will carry out a 3D CBCT scan to see how much jaw bone you have to decide what is best for your smile.