Why Implant Crowns are a Strong Choice to Bridges

by  Stephen R Ho DDS

When you need to replace a single tooth, you can receive one of two restorative options: a porcelain bridge or a single-unit dental implant that supports a crown. On the surface, it seems like a bridge which requires no surgical care and is covered by most dental insurance plans would be the more effective option.  However,  an implant crown offers several advantages over a bridge that could make it a better treatment for you.

Lifespan of Treatment

One of the key benefits is that restorations supported by a dental implants  tend to last longer than a bridge.

A bridge relies on teeth neighboring to the missing tooth for support.  The bridge has crowns that are added to these teeth to suspend the replacement tooth and provide for a strong enough foundation that the prosthetic can be effectively used to chew food.  If these anchor teeth are compromised then the entire bridge has to be removed to save the underlining tooth.  Sometimes these teeth are lost as well.

Leaving Healthy teeth Alone

The fact that we need to prepare or trim the adjacent teeth to do a bridge makes an implant desirable since an implant is self supporting and does not need the help of the adjacent teeth. It is much easier to floss a single implant tooth vs a bridge which is connected and needs a special bridge threader to floss the underside of the false tooth.

Restoring the Jaw

When losing a tooth, it is the bodies normal reaction to lose and have gums shrink in this area.  This can leave you prone to injury, increase your chances of losing more teeth and  if enough teeth are lost – make you look older than you really are.

Bridges rest on top the gum line and do nothing to treat the jaw.  Dental Implants, however, give the jaw a new root and halts the shrinkage of bone and gum.  Therefore keeping you younger looking. 

Contact Us For Implant Care

Stephen R Ho DDS provides dental implants and crowns for the Honolulu and Waikiki area. For more information,  call our office and schedule an appointment.