Published: 01/04/2019
Today’s patients have more options than ever when it comes to replacements for missing teeth. Depending on the patient’s age, health, and other needs, they may consider dentures, bridges, or even implants. When considering which one is the right fit for you, it’s important to know about the advantages of each option, and why more and more dentists are recommending dental implants as their preferred tooth replacement procedure.
Dentures and Bridges
These two treatments represent the traditional approaches to tooth replacement, and they are typically used for totally different types of patients with totally different needs. Bridge work allows the dentist, periodontist, or oral surgeon performing the procedure to create a scaffolding that then holds the replacement teeth in place. Sometimes, patients need to modify their diets to avoid damaging bridge work, but it looks natural and lasts a decade or longer.
Dentures are more often used for total tooth replacement, although there are partial jaw denture options available to some patients. They are fit and designed to look natural, but sometimes tissue loss in the jaw and gums will change the fit, and patients need a new set even if the originals are undamaged.
Dental Implants
The biggest advantages to implants are their strength and permanence:
- They never need replacement when properly cared for
- They look like natural teeth
- Implants mimic the action of teeth in the jaw thanks to the anchoring system
- Individual replacement teeth can be easily replaced if damaged by trauma
- More and more support for implants in patients with tissue loss
- Costs are decreasing as more insurance companies cover implants
These clear advantages to the technology in implants are why your dentist in Thousand Oaks, CA, is likely to recommend them first. Bridges and dentures will still do a good job, and they are recommended often to patients who can not have implants for various reasons, but they are not permanent or nearly as strong. Contact our office today for a consultation and learn more.
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