Dental Implants vs. Bridges: Which Option Is Right for Your Smile?

Tooth loss can affect more than the appearance of your smile. It can interfere with chewing and speaking, not to mention lower your confidence. 

Recovering from tooth loss leads many people to consider dental bridges or implants. At Sabrina E. Mickel DDS & Associates in Beachwood, Ohio, we offer both options, and each can improve your smile while protecting your health. Let’s take a deep dive into bridges and implants, so you understand how they work. 

Dental bridges: the basics

While there are different types of bridges, each with its own application and best use, the general idea is that a healthy, natural tooth serves as an anchor point for the replacement crown. We remove enamel from the healthy tooth to prepare it to receive a capping crown, which will be permanently cemented in place. 

The restoration crown attaches to this capping crown to create the finished bridge. We may recommend using two healthy teeth — on each side of a gap — to create a stronger restoration. 

Bridges are: 

• The quickest solution
• Often more affordable
• Able to address both appearance and function

A dental bridge does not restore the root of a lost tooth. 

Dental implants: the basics

Rather than simply replacing the crown, an implant is a complete artificial tooth, providing a stand-in for a natural tooth’s root as well as the visible biting and chewing surface. Like bridges, implants come in a variety of forms suited to different patient needs. 

The basic arrangement uses a three-part system: an implant, an abutment, and a crown. The implant itself resembles a screw and anchors the restoration into your jawbone. Attached to this screw is an abutment — a transitional piece that connects the implant to the crown. Over time, bone integrates with the implant, holding the entire system firmly in place. 

The crown can be quite similar to the crowns used in bridges, apart from the built-in hardware needed to attach to the abutment. 

Dental implants can: 

• Mimic natural tooth/jaw interactions
• Preserve jawbone mass
• Be placed with no modification of healthy teeth
• Provide a long-term solution with low maintenance 

The implant process can require several months to complete, and each patient has unique needs. 

Which is the right option for you? 

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Some patients may benefit from hybrid or mixed solutions, like implant-supported bridges to replace multiple lost teeth. 

The most important factors to consider include: 

• Your medical history and lifestyle
• Insurance coverage and costs
• The number of lost teeth and where they’re located
• Your oral health and the density of the bone in your jaw

To explore your options, contact Sabrina E. Mickel DDS & Associates for a tooth restoration consultation. Dr. Mickel will review your unique situation and recommend the best solution for your smile.