Both dental bridges and dental implants can restore your smile. Dental bridges are made from a replacement tooth connected to crowns. Implants are placed in your jaw and act like your natural tooth root. The option you choose depends on the condition of your teeth and your overall dental health.
How Do Dental Implants Work?
Dental implants are a life-long investment. Dr. Rosenfeld takes care of the entire treatment, from your first consultation visit to the installation of your permanent crown. Implants typically take about 5–6 months to finish, depending on whether they are for the upper or lower jaw and the length of healing time.
- Consultation Appointment: We start with comprehensive dental health history, an oral exam, and dental images to determine whether the patient’s jaw is dense enough for dental implants.
- First Visit: The actual implant, a post made from titanium alloy, is fitted to the jawbone. We also place a temporary crown.
- Second Visit: An abutment is fitted to the titanium post and a second temporary crown is placed so that the implant adjusts to the gum line.
- Final Visit: The permanent crown is bonded to the dental implant and aftercare instructions are given to the patient.
Dental implants have a high success rate, which means that your implant treatment can last for the rest of your life. For some patients, bone grafting may be required to build up the strength of the jawbone. This may add a few months to the implant process, but ultimately, investment in a dental implant is a one-time expense.
Are Bridges the Right Route?
If you require an extensive bone grafting process for a successful implant treatment or want a more affordable tooth-replacement option, dental bridges are the way to go.
The surrounding healthy teeth secure the dental bridge into place. These teeth are reshaped to form an anchor for the bridge, and crowns are placed over these teeth. Then, a device called a pontic, the replacement tooth, is placed over the gap.
Dental bridges can last anywhere from 5 to 15 years, depending upon your dental health habits. In addition to brushing and flossing, we recommend a water pik to our patients to clean around the bridge area.
Not only do dental bridges look aesthetically pleasing, they also look beautiful and feel natural.
Find the Right Tooth Replacement Option with Robert Rosenfeld DDS
If you’re interested in learning more about our dental bridges and dental implants, contact Dr. Rosenfeld’s clinic to schedule an appointment at 858-755-1189. We look forward to talking with you about how our tooth replacement options can change your life for the better.