Dental Implants vs Bridges: Which Suits a Missing Tooth?

When a tooth is missing, the two most common fixed replacements are a dental implant and a bridge. Both restore the look and function of the gap, but they work in very different ways.

An implant is a small titanium post placed in the jawbone, which supports a crown once healing allows. It stands on its own, so the neighbouring teeth are left untouched. It does, however, require enough bone at the site and a healing period before the final crown is fitted.

A bridge replaces the missing tooth with a false tooth held by crowns on the teeth either side. It is usually completed in a shorter time and needs no surgery, but the supporting teeth have to be reshaped — a consideration if those teeth are healthy and unrestored.

Maintenance also differs. An implant is cleaned much like a natural tooth, with attention to the gum around it. A bridge needs cleaning underneath the false tooth with a floss threader or interdental brush, because plaque collects there.

Suitability depends on the bone at the site, the condition of the neighbouring teeth, your gum health, general health and habits such as smoking, and how much time you can give to treatment. A clinical examination with radiographs is needed before either option can be recommended.

Leaving the gap is also a choice worth discussing, though neighbouring teeth can drift and the opposite tooth can over-erupt over time.

At Swasthya Advanced Dental Care & Implant Centre, both options are assessed and explained by Dr. Gajulavarthi Joel Sandeep, MDS, Implantologist and Periodontologist, at our Guntur and Narasaraopet clinics. Book a consultation to find out which is appropriate in your case.