Dental implant vs bridge: which is the best solution?
Many patients wonder what is the difference between dental implant vs bridge, and how to choose between these 2 options. Both fixed and durable, here is everything you need to know about their differences, and which solution is best for you.
What is a dental implant?
If you have one or multiple missing teeth, your dentist may advise you to get dental implants. They are composed of the implant, which is an artificial root, the crown and the abutment. A dental implant replaces the missing teeth with new natural looking artificial teeth.
The dental implant procedure:
Getting a dental implant requires a surgery, carred out by surgeons specialised in implantology. This is an intervention that requires at least 3 visits to the dental clinic.
At the EL CEDRO Barcelona dental clinic, every dental implant procedure starts with a preliminary dental check-up and an x-ray. The x-ray will help determine if a bone graft or a sinus lift are needed, and where there is a need of implants. Once the treatment plan established, the surgeon team places the implants. This procedure is carried out under local anaesthesia, and is a pain free procedure. Intravenous Sedation (IV) can also help reduce stress.
After this first appointment, the healing period starts. It is the osseointegration, allowing the bone to fully integrate the implant. It’s a mandatory and very important step of the procedure. It can take between 3 and 6 months, depending on each patient situation and the number of implant placed.
So, 3 to 6 months later, you come back to the dental clinic for your second appointment. The dental team will take impressions of your mouth to create the final prothesis. In the meantime, they will place the abutment and attach to it a provisional prothesis. This will allow you to get back acertain comfort while waiting for the final prothesis.
1 to 1 and a half months later, your third and last appointment takes place. The definitive implant prosthesis will be screwed to the abutment, and your dental implant will be finally done and ready!
Dental implant cost:
Getting dental implants is the most expensive dental procedure nowadays However, dental tourism makes it possible to find quality treatments at affordable prices. Indeed, the UK, France, Germany etc… are known as expensive countries for health in general, making them not accessible to most patients in need. With dental tourism, you can reach Spain, a very affordable country because of it’s low cost of living.
At the EL CEDRO Barcelona clinic, we offer the same quality of treatment, if not better, than European countries and at lower prices.
As an example, a single dental implant costs 1 290 € (£1,153), compared to 2 385 € (£2,473) for the UK and 2 000 € (£1,745) for France. Find out more about dental implants cost.
What is a dental bridge?
A dental bridge is a set of interconnected crowns that aims to fill a gap in the mouth. It is the perfect solution for people missing one or multiple teeth. A traditional bridge is permanently attached to adjacent healthy teeth, which are also known as “abutment teeth”. It is a permanent and fixed solution that allows you to regain a chewing comfort as well as an aesthetic smile.
The dental bridge procedure:
Upon your first appointment, the dental team will perform preliminary examinations and an x-ray to examine your mouth and check for any tooth decay or gum disease that should be treated. Once examination is complete, an impression will be taken to make a provisional dental bridge. The impressions will then be sent out to the prothesis laboratory.
During your second appointment, the dental team will prepare the adjacent healthy teeth to support the bridge. They will trim them to create the needed space to replace the missing tooth. New impressions will also be taken to prepare the definitive bridge.
The last appointment will consist in installing and sealing the definitive bridge and adjust it to the occlusion. The dental team will check if the bridge is correctly placed, right to your gum and matching your natural teeth color.
Dental bridge cost:
If getting a dental bridge can be cheaper than getting dental implants, it stays an expensive dental treatment. Though, Spain offers lower prices with a high quality of care.
As an example, a 3 unit dental bridge costs 1 110 € (£992) at the EL CEDRO Barcelona clinic, compared to 2 796 € (£2,400) for the UK and 1 950 € (£1,680) for France. Find out more about dental bridge cost.
Dental implant vs bridge
Diffrences
When dental bridges rely on the health of adjacent teeth, a dental implant can be placed anywhere. It makes it easier and less convenient.
However, a dental implant requires a surgical intervention when a dental bridge only requires to trim the adjacent teeth.
Lastly, dental implants take longer as they require a longer healing period time as there is a surgical intervention. Getting a dental implant can take up to 7 months, when getting a dental bridge takes up to 10 weeks.
Similarities
Both dental implants and dental bridge have the same purpose, substituting one or multiple missing teeth. They can both be customized according to the needs of the patient, and provide a natural finishing look. They are fixed and permanent solutions that allow to get back a remarkable chewing comfort.
Dental implant & bridge
To be able to get a traditional bridge, you need your adjacent teeth to be healthy. However, if they are not, you can combine the above solutions by getting a dental bridge on implants. It’s a fixed prosthesis that allows you to rebuild your teeth when the natural roots cannot serve as pillars of the bridges, either because they have been extracted or because they are too damaged.
Here is everything you need to know about dental bridge on implants, as its advantages, the procedure, and the cost.
