How Do Dental Implants Compare to Bridges and Dentures?
By Reza Rafie | Published on March 25, 2011 | 0 Comments
The entire premise behind the dental profession has always been to help the public achieve and maintain healthy smiles through the treatments that are readily available. And while decades ago, there were limited options for treating existing oral health problems, now, dentists and patients alike are excited over the widespread use of dental implants for a number of reasons.
From a patient’s perspective, dental implants feel much more like real teeth than appliances that had previously been used. Before implants, says Reva Rafie DMD, who often treats his San Diego, CA patients with dental implants, there were two main choices for replacing missing teeth.
The first option, he explains, is the use of partial dentures. However, since the appliance is removable, it often plays a psychological role on patients, making them feel old. Additionally, because dentures rely on clasps that go around other teeth in the mouth to stay in place, they are often uncomfortable and make eating difficult.
The other option for patients beside partial dentures is the use of dental bridges. Unfortunately, in order to fit a bridge properly inside a patient’s mouth, a dentist often has to cut down the healthy teeth surrounding the missing tooth to attach the bridge.
With the introduction of dental implants, all of the imperfections associated with partial dentures and bridges seem to have disappeared. Implants don’t damage the surrounding, healthy teeth, but still feel very natural themselves. When patients with a missing tooth or who are scheduled to have one extracted come into the office, Dr. Rafie first conducts a thorough exam to assess the condition of the gum tissue around the area and the integrity of the jaw bone. Smile Designers also has a close relationship with an implant specialist who may be asked to come in for a second opinion.
In order to be a candidate for dental implants, Dr. Rafie says that healthy jaw bone is necessary. With all of the new treatments that are available, he adds, the number of patients who are deemed unfit for implants is decreasing more and more. For instance, if there is not enough bone, then a patient may be a candidate for a bone graft that will increase the strength of the jaw.
Once a dental implant has been successfully inserted and the area has healed, a dentist can proceed with adding the crown, which serves as the visible replacement of a missing tooth and looks and acts just like the real thing. Afterward, Dr. Rafie says that cleaning implants is no more tedious than regular cleanings. Since it is just like a real tooth, he explains, you can clean it the same way. Furthermore, Dr. Rafie explains that beyond the necessary appointments around the time of an implant procedure, more frequent check-ups with the dentist are not dependent upon the placement of a dental implant. Instead, he says, being asked by a dentist to come in for examinations on a more frequent basis has to do with the health of the gums and all of the teeth.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.