Dental Industry Blog

LEARN HOW TO DETERMINE IF A DENTAL BRIDGE OR AN IMPLANT IS RIGHT FOR YOU.

Dental Implants are quickly becoming the standard in cases where teeth need to be replaced. This has not always been the case. Dental Bridges were most commonly used as a means to replace damaged or missing teeth. A bridge typically will be incorporated into the teeth surrounding the missing or damaged tooth. The teeth on either side will act as a support for the bridge itself. An Implant is a standalone tooth which is fixed to the jaw almost as naturally as the original root.

Considering that the Dental Implant is fixed to the jaw bone it has much greater longevity than your average Dental Bridge. This is due to several factors. One of the benefits of choosing an implant is that most implants will preserve the underlying jawbone. This in turn helps maintain the overlying structure of the face which prevents these structures from collapsing. As mentioned earlier, implants can be used whether there are surrounding teeth present or not. Dental Bridges typically rely on surrounding teeth which need to be cut down to help support the bridge itself.  Implants can also be used to replace several missing or damaged teeth in a row where as in most cases a bridge could not fill this large of a space.

Implants also make it easier for patients to maintain normal oral hygiene. It becomes very difficult to assume normal flossing on the teeth surrounding the bridge. In order to floss these areas you’ll need special floss threaders.  Dental Implants are also less vulnerable to many teeth diseases that affect natural teeth. These diseases include decay, fractures and nerve (pulpal) disease. You will also rule out the chance of needing Root Canals on dental implants.

With dental bridges there is a chance of developing decay of the underlying tooth structure. Implants are impervious to decay considering they are made of metal and porcelain. When your bridge develops decay it will also affect the surrounding teeth. This could require at least 3 crowns to be replaced.  This is best case scenario. Often these teeth will also require additional treatment such as pulp caps, root canals or core build up. All this can be avoided with dental implants. In other words you can save quite a bit of money in the long run by choosing implants.

Dental bridges have a life expectancy of 10 years at which time 15% of them will need to be replaced. At 15 years 33% of them will need to be redone. Implants have a success rate of over 98% and will most likely never need to be replaced. It is still very important to take care of your implants in order to assure you’ll get the most out of them.

Learn about the cost of Dental Bonding

The cost of dental bonding can typically range from $100 to $300. The costs will vary mainly depending on where you live in the country. If you have dental insurance you can also check with them to find out if they will completely or partially cover the procedure.

Dental bonding is a procedure where a durable tooth colored plastic resin is used. The material is applied to the tooth and bonded with a special light. One of the most commonly used applications for dental bonding is for cavity filling. Depending on if the cavity is new or if the bonding will be used to replace a traditional silver filling will affect the cost of the dental bonding procedure. If the cavity is new then your insurance company may only cover 50 to 80 percent of the cost. If the bonding is being used to replace traditional silver fillings, then the insurance may cover the entire procedure.

Next we have cosmetic dental bonding and the cost associated. Cosmetic dental bonding is used to fill in a small space between teeth or to restore chipped or cracked teeth. It can also be used to simply improve the look of your smile. The average costs can vary between $300 and $600 per tooth. However the cost of cosmetic bonding can be as low as $100 to $200 and as high as $800 to $1050 per tooth. The price has a lot to do with the intricacy of the bonding, average local rates. The experience, training and reputation of your dentist will also play a role in what you will end up paying for the service. Unless cosmetic dental bonding is being used for structural problems, it is generally not covered by dental insurance.

Just as with most products or services, the cheapest is not always the best. Make sure that you do your homework before choosing a dentist for your dental bonding needs. Ask questions and check online for reviews.