When you have missing teeth, there are several options to help get your smile back. Dentures and partials are commonly used—but you may find that dental implant bridges are better suited for your needs.
While dentures, partials and dental implant bridges can all restore your smile, implants are the best long-term solution. If you have more than one adjacent missing tooth, dental implant bridges provide a nearly permanent, functional and attractive way to enjoy eating, speaking and smiling once again.
Here’s why dental implant bridges may be right for you:
- Replace multiple teeth at once: Dental implant bridges are particularly beneficial for replacing multiple adjacent missing teeth, all at the same time.
- Permanent installation: Unlike dentures and partials which can be removed, dental implants are affixed to your jaw bone and thus always remain in your mouth. Seldomly, do they have to be removed or replaced.
- Looks and feels natural: Dental implant bridges are often made from high-quality zirconia, which looks and feels just like regular tooth enamel. No one will ever know your implants are not your natural teeth.
- Brush and floss like regular teeth: While implant bridges aren’t susceptible to decay, like natural teeth, they do require regular care. Unlike dentures and partials, however, you will never have to remove and soak your teeth to clean them. You can simply brush and floss as normal. (In some cases, a water flossing tool is recommended.)
Other options
Of course, not everyone needs a dental implant bridge. If you’re missing one or two teeth in different areas of your mouth, it’s practical to get single implants. Similarly, if you’re missing all or most of your teeth, implant retained dentures is a very good solution.
Sometimes, patients may not have enough bone in their jaws to support an implant. If that’s the case, your Implantologist will talk to you about other options so that you can still enjoy the benefits of dental implants.