Why Bridgeport Dental Implants Are Better Than Conventional Dental Bridges

By Author: Jack De Richards
Total Articles: 98
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When you lose a tooth, which can be for any of a variety of reasons, there are a number of solutions available. In the case of single tooth replacement, the two most popular today are Bridgeport dental implants and conventional dental bridges. In this article we shall be taking a look at the differences between these two technologies and why it is that dental healthcare professionals generally recommend implants over bridges.
What Are Bridgeport Dental Implants?
Dental implants are synthetic tooth roots fabricated from the exceptionally strong, lightweight and non-corrodible metal titanium. They are surgically placed at the site(s) from which a tooth or teeth have gone missing or have been extracted. Over the months following surgery, the jawbone surrounding the implants biologically fuses with its surface, essentially anchoring it to the jawbone. Dental implants are therefore fixed (non-removable) and freestanding artificial tooth roots that are used to support a customized ceramic tooth crown or bridge. Both implant supported crowns and bridges are made to be virtually indistinguishable from a natural healthy ...
... teeth in function, appearance and feel.
What Are Conventional Dental Bridges?
Dental bridges typically consist of a minimum of three adjacent ceramic tooth crowns that have been fused together. The two outer tooth crowns are placed on top of the healthy teeth that lie adjacent to the missing tooth. The middle crown then assumes the place and therefore the function of the missing tooth. In order to support a dental bridge, often two healthy adjacent teeth need to be prepared into nubs in order to accommodate a bridge, which is where the problems with bridges begin.
Comparing Bridgeport Dental Implants and Conventional Bridges
Sacrificing two perfectly healthy teeth to replace one is a major disadvantage of bridges. Although the natural roots remain, they become increasingly vulnerable to bacterial decay and frequently end up requiring extraction. Dental bridges also come with the following problems and healthcare challenges:
They don’t feel natural and can cause patients discomfort and increased self-awareness.
They tend to be associated with an increased risk of decay and further tooth loss.
They typically last between 10 and 15 years before failing.
They don’t replace the root of the missing tooth and as a result, jawbone atrophy can ensue. This upsets the stability of the neighboring teeth and by association the rest of the tooth row.
Dental bridges are tricky to keep clean and can contribute to halitosis.
Bridgeport dental implants on the other hand:
Do not ever require the sacrifice of two healthy teeth in order to be placed.
Support natural feeling restorations and don’t typically cause patients any discomfort.
Are not associated with an increased risk of decay.
Do replace the root of the missing tooth, helping to keep the underlying jawbone healthy and the neighboring teeth stable.
Are cleaned like natural teeth, with regular and thorough brushing and flossing.
A Final Note
For these reasons, Bridgeport dental implants are always recommended by dental healthcare professional to patients in need of new teeth. Implants may initially come with a higher price tag, but in the long run they work out to be far more cost effective and promote a much greater quality of life.