Teeth are fragile and can break by accident. When that happens, it is very important to see a dentist to replace the lost tooth, avoid possible infection and, above all, find out what caused the loss. But when the time comes to replace the lost tooth, one question always comes up: is it better to go for an implant or a dental bridge? Both treatments replace the missing tooth, but they are completely different solutions, and at Clínica Peydro we explain why.
What is the difference between an implant and a dental bridge?
Before saying whether an implant or a dental bridge is better, we need to know what the differences between them are.
Dental implants
A dental implant is a small screw inserted into the patient’s jawbone to replace the missing tooth. To give it the function of a tooth, a crown is fitted on top of the screw. The implant goes only into the empty socket where the tooth was lost, so there is no need to file down the neighboring teeth to hold it in place. At Clínica Peydro we now place same-day dental implants that replace missing teeth naturally, so the patient recovers both chewing function and the appearance of their smile. Dental implants can be placed on the same day you come in, and they give the patient greater confidence and comfort.
Dental bridge
A dental bridge is a structure made up of crowns designed to mimic several teeth joined together. The bridge is fixed with dental cement onto the natural teeth on either side of the gap. For the cement to bond to the natural teeth and hold the bridge in place, the teeth on either side of the one being replaced have to be filed down.
Which is better, an implant or a dental bridge?
As many of you will know, at Clínica Peydro we always argue for minimally invasive techniques, meaning that healthy teeth are respected as far as possible, which is why we usually propose dental implants when a tooth has been lost. At Clínica Peydro we single out 4 main reasons why we prefer implants over dental bridges:
- Filing down: dental implants are a minimally invasive technique, since they simply restore the lost tooth without changing the teeth around it in any way.
- Appearance: a dental implant looks more natural because of the materials used to make it.
- Oral health and quality of life: same-day dental implants are easier and quicker to clean, and you can eat a full diet.
- Longevity: although they cost more than dental bridges, dental implants last longer and are more stable in the patient’s mouth. And because an implant is a single unit with no connection at all to the teeth beside it, it cannot develop conditions such as decay. With a dental bridge, its working life depends on the teeth on either side.
Marta Peydro, an expert in implant dentistry
If you are thinking about having a dental implant, Clínica Peydro is the dental practice in Valencia with the most experience in this kind of treatment. Our practice has Marta Peydro, who works exclusively on esthetic dental surgery. With more than 20 years of surgical experience behind her, she has put together a team of professionals for same-day protocols, fitting the final teeth 4 hours after surgery, and has operated on hundreds of patients with great success. If you want to know more about choosing between an implant and a dental bridge, you can look at this success story by Dr. Marta Peydro in which implants and same-day loading were chosen: Full mouth rehabilitation with same-day implants
