Dental Implants Versus Conventional Bridges: Which Is Better?

Online, July 21, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Tooth loss is a pervasive problem in the United States and with the incidence of gum disease remaining at a shocking 80% amongst our society; the statistics are not getting any better. Millions of teeth are loss annually to decay and oral disease, so a common choice Americans are forced to make is between the teeth replacement technologies available. When it comes to addressing the lost of one or more teeth, as opposed to the entire dental arch as is the case with edentulous (toothless) and near-edentulous patients and those presenting with a failing dentition, the choice is between conventional bridges and dental implants. That is, if it is a patient's choice to replace a missing tooth at all.

Typically, cost is a major concern and can override a concern for benefitting from the best and most sophisticated technology. Choosing between bridges and dental implants can be compared to choosing between an old Nokia 3210 and the new iPhone 5. The iPhone may initially be pricier, but it offers much better functionality, aesthetics and longevity. By opting for the better technology, you'll also save yourself the money you'll eventually need to replace your Nokia when you lob it against the wall out of sheer frustration.

This analogy perhaps doesn't do the subject justice, so let's get a better understanding of the difference between conventional bridges and dental implants. Who better to speak to than expert All-On-4 dental implant specialist Dr. Steven Moss, who was recently named one of New Jersey's "Best Dentist" by a survey of his peers.

The Key Differences between Dental Bridges and Implants

"Conventional bridges consist of three synthetic tooth crowns (in the case of a 3-unit bridge), which is fabricated as one piece," explains Dr. Moss. "The two outer crowns are placed upon the "prepared" two healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth and act as a bridge for the middle crown, which sits in the gap left by the missing tooth.

"Dental implants, on the other hand, are free-standing and do not require support from the neighboring teeth. They consist of a titanium metal screw, which is placed in the jawbone at the site of the missing tooth. Once the jawbone has healed around the implant, we place a ceramic dental crown."

Both technologies replace missing teeth, but why are implants internationally considered to be better? And are the advantages they offer worth the price difference?

"Oral specialists recommend dental implants for a number of reasons," explains Dr. Steven Moss. "First of all, they replace the root of the missing tooth as well as the crown. This offers a suite of benefits, including greater longevity, stronger bite function and the sustained health of the underlying bone tissue. Bone requires functional stimulation in order to remain healthy and conventional bridges, which only replace the crown, fail to transmit the eating forces into the bone, thus leading to atrophy in the long term."

It's quite interesting to learn just how necessary the tooth roots are to the maintenance of healthy bone and bone volume. Most people might think that the tooth roots are there just to "anchor" the teeth in the jawbone, but one of their primary roles is to keep the bone stimulated, strong and healthy. When a tooth is lost and left without replacement, the bone surrounding the missing root becomes re-absorbed by the jaw and the bone volume decreases.

Dr. Moss goes on to explain: "The loss of bone volume and subsequent spacing between teeth, can cause others to migrate and shift into poor positions. Also, due to jaw bone remodeling, it's not uncommon for the gum line underneath a bridge to drop as a result of jawbone atrophy and this can pose hygienic as well as esthetic concerns."

The Benefits of Dental Implants; the Drawbacks of Bridges

What are some of the other things people might like to take into consideration when making a choice in teeth replacement technologies?

"Dental implants do not require the two healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth to be sacrificed, as is the case with bridges," explains Dr. Steve Moss. "The natural tooth crowns are typically filed down to nubs in order to support a conventional bridge and this is a costly price to pay. Essentially, the loss of one tooth requires the alteration of two others." To make matters worse, over time, decay can set in and compromise the neighboring natural teeth, leading to the loss of the bridge."

What this means is that the bridge may very well have to be removed eventually, along with the decayed teeth, leaving a patient with three missing teeth. The options they then face are to have a longer bridge or denture placed... or dental implants.

Another key difference is the fact that bridges typically last 10 to 12 years, while dental implants last decades and, if cared for properly, even a lifetime. "This is real value for the money," explains Dr. Moss. "Dental implants are typically a one-time investment, whereas bridges require repeat maintenance and replacement."

So, it would seem as though dental implants are actually the cheaper option in the long run. They also feel more natural and don't typically cause problems such as decay and - consequently - halitosis or bad breath.

In Conclusion...

For the reasons explained by expert All-On-4 dental implant specialist Dr. Steven Moss, it would seem as though dental implants are indeed the superior teeth replacement choice and one that isn't costlier, but cost-effective. Oral specialists across the globe recommend this sophisticated technology time and again to patients who have lost one or more of their pearly whites to decay, disease or accidental trauma.

About MALO Advanced Oral Rehabilitation

Dr. Steven Moss works at MALO Advanced Oral Rehabilitation, which provides comprehensive dental implant solutions for patients who have lost any number of teeth, whether they require single tooth replacement or oral rehabilitation with the innovative All-On-4™ protocol. MALO AOR is just one of a great chain of MALO CLINICS, the brainchild of European Implantologist Dr. Paulo Malo. While the North American branch of this world renowned institution is located in Rutherford, New Jersey, it serves a much wider geographical area via a sophisticated network of affiliated dental offices and clinics, in addition to the New York, Philadelphia and Stamford metropolitan areas.