Comparing between Implants and Fixed Bridgework
Before prosthetics, patients are primarily concerned with the question of what is better to put - a bridge or an implant. Unlike bridges, implants are highly durable and hypoallergenic. The number of complications after the installation of bridges is much higher, and most often they are associated with the design features of the prosthesis.
The success of prosthetics with a crown on an implant directly depends on the qualifications and experience of the doctor.
However, patients tend to choose bridges because they are afraid of implantation and recklessly consider them too costly. In order to avoid the negative consequences of a rash decision, we suggest you compare the advantages and disadvantages of both designs.
| Criterion | Bridge | Implant |
|---|---|---|
| The cost | Compared to implantation, the installation of a bridge is a fairly simple procedure at an affordable price. Orthopedic structures are made of cheap materials - plastic, metal, cermet. | The price of the implant is much higher, since expensive materials are used for their production. However, a long list of benefits and a lifetime warranty fully justify it. |
| Design features | A bridge on the teeth is a construction of two crowns between which artificial teeth are placed. | The implant exactly repeats the living root of the tooth, on which the crown is placed using the abutment. |
| How many teeth can be restored? | Placing a bridge helps restore one or more teeth. | With the help of an implant, a single defect in the dentition is eliminated. |
| Harm to healthy teeth? | During the installation of the bridge, the abutment teeth are prepared, which leads to their further destruction. | Installation of the implant does not require removal of the nerve and turning of adjacent healthy teeth. |
| 6interactions with oral tissues | After the installation of the dental bridge, an inconspicuous hole remains between it and the gum, in which food particles get stuck, provoking the development of pathogenic microflora | Over time, the implant is completely fused with the bone tissue, which eliminates the risk of infection. |
| Service life of prostheses | The maximum service life of the bridge structure is 10 years. In addition, frequent replacement of bridges is not carried out due to the destruction of the abutment teeth. | Implants are installed for life, and, with proper oral care, they do not require replacement. |
| Effect on bone structure | The installation of the bridge provokes destructive processes in the jawbone in the absence of teeth, which leads to negative changes in appearance - the lower third of the face decreases, the corners of the lips descend. | After the installation of the implant, bone atrophy does not occur, since a uniform distribution of the chewing load is ensured. |
| Installation procedure duration | The installation of a bridge is a lengthy process that includes several stages. First of all, an examination and treatment of abutment teeth is carried out, then, if required, depulpation and removal of decayed teeth. Then it takes time for the gums to heal. This stage takes about a month. | Taking into account the preliminary examination, the implantation of one tooth takes about 2-3 months. The surgical stage takes 40-60 minutes. In the absence of contraindications, one-stage implantation is performed, i.e. implant placement immediately after tooth extraction. |
| Convenience | It is necessary to get used to the bridge structure, at first the abutment teeth and gums may hurt. | During the engraftment of implants, there is no discomfort and discomfort in the oral cavity due to the use of biocompatible material. |
| Possible complications | Some time after the installation of the bridge, the necks of the supporting teeth may become exposed. The process is considered natural, but improper teeth turning can make it worse. If the patient suffers from bruxism, restorations may fall out of the prosthesis. Other complications include loosening of the teeth and the development of secondary caries. | According to statistics, complications after tooth implantation occur in 5%. Among them: bleeding (with blood clotting disorders), pain, suture divergence, inflammation of the mandibular nerve, perforation of the bottom of the maxillary sinus, inflammation of the gums, rejection of the implant. |
What is better implant or bridge - let's summarize
Comparison of the pros and cons of the implant and the dental bridge allows us to draw the following conclusions. Implantation, undoubtedly, has more significant advantages than the installation of bridges with support on adjacent teeth.
5 advantages of implantation in the "Implant City" clinic:
- dental implants of various brands and types;
- a large selection of various orthopedic structures;
- application of innovative techniques and technologies;
- experienced specialists with a high level of professionalism;
- the most affordable prices for the procedure in Moscow.
Price of implants and dental bridges
The cost of a bridge depends on the material from which it is made, the cheapest is made of plastic, the most expensive is made of all-ceramic. The metal-ceramic construction is considered to be the best for the price. The costs for the service of installing a bridge include taking impressions, processing abutment teeth, making a prosthesis, and fixing it.
The price of an implant depends on the manufacturer, the purity of the alloy, and the availability of a coating that accelerates the engraftment process. Of the crowns on implants, the most expensive are zirconium and ceramic.
The method of attachment determines the first important criterion in the "which is better" dispute:
- The bridge on implants does not injure the patient's living teeth.
In classical prosthetics, loosening and destruction of the teeth, on which the prosthesis is attached, occurs. Using implants as a support, and not a living tooth, which must be handled as carefully as possible, the fastening can be made more reliable. Consequently, the bridge is able to withstand a higher load. - Implants provide a more reliable fixation of the prosthesis.
- The question "dental bridge or implant?" unambiguously decided in favor of the latter when it comes to the restoration of teeth with complete adentia. In the case of classic prosthetics, you simply have nothing to attach the prosthesis to. Possibility of jaw prosthetics in the absence of teeth with the help of implants. In the case of classical prosthetics in place of missing teeth, bone tissue atrophy occurs, which has serious consequences for the condition of the entire dentition. When placing an implant or a bridge on implants, the load is evenly distributed over the entire bone, the process of
osteogenesis does not stop. - The bridge on implants prevents bone tissue atrophy. The maximum service life of a prosthesis is 5-10 years, while dental implants have a lifetime warranty and are more likely to serve you for the rest of your life.
- Implants have a longer service life and are easier to maintain.
The listed main 5 advantages will help you decide what to install: an implant or a bridge according to the classical prosthetics scheme. Find out the conclusion of a specialist at a free examination from a leading implantologist. The long-term procedure means long-term effect. The new tooth is identical and natural, with a lifetime warranty