Implants
A dental implant is a titanium post surgically positioned in the jaw bone to replace the root of a missing tooth. An artificial tooth (crown) is placed on an extension of the implant (called the abutment), giving patients the look and function of a natural tooth.
The major benefit of an implant is the solid support for your new tooth/teeth without using surrounding natural teeth as support. It’s a process that requires the bone to heal tightly around the implant, and because this healing requires time, the implant process can take several months. However, in most situations, temporary teeth can be made to get patients through the healing process with a complete smile.
Bridges
A dental bridge is used to replace a missing tooth by using the teeth on either side of the missing tooth as support. Dental bridges help maintain the shape of your face, as well as alleviate the stress on your bite by replacing missing teeth. Sometimes called a fixed partial denture, a dental bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth and literally bridges the gap where one or more teeth have been lost. The restoration can be made from gold, porcelain or a combination of these materials and is bonded onto surrounding teeth for support. It may require the removal of good tooth structure on surrounding teeth. Unlike a removable bridge, which you can take out and clean, a fixed bridge can only be removed by a dentist. A bridge’s success depends on its foundation, so it’s very important to keep your remaining teeth healthy and strong.
