These days we have become more aware of our oral health issues and especially when it comes to having space caused by missing tooth or teeth. The main reason for restoring missing tooth/teeth is:

• Aesthetic
• Chewing food
• Speech

Various options are available these days to overcome the problem. They are:

• Dental bridges
• Dental implants

So how do we choose which is right for us? Let’s find out weighing the pros and cons of each of these options.

DENTAL BRIDGES:

These are fixed prosthesis that replace the missing tooth/teeth.

Pros:

• They are easy to maintain and clean.
• They provide excellent chewing comfort
• Aesthetic wise, depending on the material chosen the outcome can be satisfactory
• Needs fewer appointments and chair-side time.
• Lifespan and prognosis is good
• It restores the function of your teeth such as, chewing and speaking
• It prevents your remaining teeth from shifting which can cause problems with your bite
• It is permanently fixed in your mouth so you don’t have to keep removing it like your partial denture for cleaning purposes
• Economical

Cons:

• You have to sacrifice i.e. reduce a little bit of enamel of your adjacent teeth to gain additional support. This is a permanent change that is done on an otherwise normal teeth.
• The adjacent or abutment teeth may show increased sensitivity as the enamel is removed from them.
• Ill-fitting bridge can cause decay of the tooth underneath.
• Restoration can collapse if the supporting teeth are not strong enough.
• They may need to be replaced every 10-15 years.

DENTAL IMPLANTS

These are a popular choice these days due to growing awareness among the dental community as well as the patients. Here basically the roots are replaced by tiny cylindrical screw and the overlying restoration will have the crown which will provide all the basic support that a tooth needs. However, before going ahead with implants, it’s better to educate ourselves with their advantages and disadvantages.

Pros:

• No harm caused to the adjacent tooth structures.
• Helps preserve bone which may otherwise result in reduction in jaw height and an appearance of aging.
• Life span of implants is longer than bridges or crowns.
• Can be used to secure partial or full denture.
• It will allow you to chew better and speak more clearly.
• More natural appearing.
• It provides same bite strength as the natural tooth.

Cons:

• Surgical procedure is necessary.
• If there is insufficient bone for implants, bone grafts may be needed which comes with an additional cost.
• Expensive when compared to crowns or bridges.
• They take time for bone integration. For the entire procedure to be complete it may take around 3-18 months.

The bottom line is, no matter what you choose replacing a missing tooth or teeth is very important. The issues you can foresee if this is not done are:

• Bone loss at the sight of the gap.
• The adjacent teeth can drift into the space which can change your chewing pattern.
• Missing teeth for a long time can alter your facial features like sunken cheeks and skin wrinkling around the mouth.
• Not capable of speaking properly.
• Inadequate nutrition intake.

To know more about which one is a better choice for you, get in touch with Dr. Anitha Alageshan at Zen Orthodontic and Dental Care now!

Call us at: 080-48655431 or

Log on to our website at: http://zendental.in