Porcelain Bridges versus Dental Implants

Implant Dentistry: Great Tooth Replacement Option

Dental implants are gaining more popularity as the treatment of choice for missing teeth. They help secure loose dentures by one of two methods.

First, four dental implants integrated into either jawbone can allow a denture to be securely fixed into place.  Denture adhesives are no longer needed so slipping quits being a problem and you can talk, eat and smile confidently. Additionally, implants act like natural tooth roots to stimulate and prevent the jawbone from wearing away.

The other improvement is how dental implants can change lives.  Restorations secured with implants, unlike traditional crown and bridge dentistry and dentures, gives patients who have had dental problems for many years a youthful outlook on life. Patients are often amazed at the beauty of their implant restored teeth. They are more confident in social situations, and in the normal routines of their day like laughing and chewing.

Dr. Briglia collaborates with Dr. John Nikas, a Board Certified Periodontal Specialist who also places dental implants. He practices in our West Chester office and will develop the best plan for your needs.

Discover the comprehensive benefits of implant dentistry. Request a Complimentary Smile Consultation using our on-line form or call (610) 692-4440.

Dental implants are gaining more popularity as the treatment of choice for patients. They are a longer term solution and can require extended treatment plans due to the need for osseointegration to occur and completely integrate the implant device into the jawbone structure.

Generally speaking, bridgework is a first choice treatment because of easier affordability and the ability to complete treatment in just a few weeks. Insurance companies almost always provide coverage for bridges and rarely help cover costs associated with dental implants.

In some dental practices, bridgework may be a favored treatment of the dentist since treatment plans can be developed and completed quickly. If a doctor is an insurance provider... this factor too may influence the manner in which a dentist provides options to his/her patients.

For some patients however, because of the need to replace bridgework several times over a lifetime, implants may offer substantial savings in long term treatment costs. Dental implants lasting 30 years and more is not uncommon, given that the patient exercises good oral health habits. In the unlikely event an implant does need replacement, bone deterioration is typically not an issue. Implants function like normal teeth in providing the needed bone stimuation for maintaining sound bone structure.

Bridgework requires sound tooth structures for providing the anchors for the bridge. Each time bridgework is replaced, the anchor teeth require additional preparation to accept the newer bridge. For some patients, depending upon the number of times they have had replacement bridgework, over-preparation of a tooth structure can eventually lead to failure of that tooth, possibly requiring a root canal or extraction.

Bone resorption also occurs within (actually under) the bridgework, particularly at the locations of missing teeth. This resorption process is a natural process and could pose problems for patients who have had bridge failures and no adequate tooth structures for anchoring the bridge. Unfortunately, treatment may require a denture which will cause additional bone loss if implants aren't used.

Trying to determine which tooth replacement strategy is best requires analysis of existing bone integrity issues, current status of adjacent teeth, an assessment of how many times the bridgework will need to be replaced and the age of the patient.

Obtaining the most sensible treatment is easily made affordable through a variety of means. Dr. Briglia assists patients in determining which treatment will produce the most savings, not only in current costs but the costs that can be eliminated or avoided that typically arise from future oral health problems that accrue from not making the correct choice.