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.

Nobody wants to hear that they need a root canal. Root canals can be quite painful and are caused by decay in the tooth where the nerve tissue becomes impaired. Root canals are actually quite common and if taken care of quickly they can prevent further problems and save you money in the long run!

If you are experiencing light to heavy pain while eating or drinking hot or cold foods and liquids, you may need a root canal. Toothaches for an extended period of time can also be an indication that a root canal may be necessary. If this pain is mild and doesn’t persist, it is unlikely that you’ll need a root canal. It is a good idea however to visit the dentist if you feel any type of pain severe or not in order to avoid a problem. Other signs of needing a root canal may be pain or sensitivity while biting and chewing your food. There also may be signs of swelling around the tooth. Another common warning sign is being woken up at night by tooth pain which requires taking pain relievers.

The pain being experienced from these symptoms is caused by the exposure to the nerve from the decay being so deep into the tooth. For some people the pain can be unbearable, while with others it can be tolerated. Regardless of the intensity you should get in to see your dentist as soon as possible.

Once you’ve decided it is a good idea to visit the dentist they’ll be able quickly identify if you need a root canal. From there they will explain how the tooth will be restored and the pain stopped. After receiving your root canal you will typically receive a temporary which will protect the tooth until you receive your crown. The crown is meant to restore the tooth and have you back to living your life without worrying about tooth pain.