In the field of dentistry, the advent of dental implants is considered as an exceptional technological advancement in the last 20 years, changing the dentistry landscape in many ways. And it could be the reason why dental implants are getting a lot of attention these days.
Replacing A Lost Tooth
The most common use of implants in dentistry is to replace single or multiple teeth and implants are an incredible option for this purpose. Before dental implants, dentists recommended bridges to replace missing teeth.Dental Implants or Bridges?
Some people are still not comfortable with the concept of dental implants as they are with bridges. There are patients who prefer to have bridges instead of dental implants. So what should be the basis for treatment choice between dental implants and bridges?Dental Implants
A dental implant is a titanium screw. The titanium screw will be placed in the jaw bone where a tooth used to be. The part of the screw which comes out of the gum will be capped by a porcelain crown. This becomes the “new tooth”. A dental implant is recommended if a tooth is lost and it’s a natural root. The implant acts as the new foundation or root for the replacement tooth. Titanium is a preferred choice for dental implants primarily because it is an inert material. Titanium is the most recent biomaterial used in medical and dental implants. The material property of titanium along with its alloys satisfy the requirements for biomaterials better than other implant materials. Titanium alloys, specifically Titanium Beta 21S, have excellent corrosion resistance and specific strength and no allergic problems. Titanium Beta 21S alloy is considered to be one of the most important advanced materials because of its high strength and weight ratio, good oxidation resistance and excellent corrosion behavior.Bridge
A bridge also replaces a missing tooth, but in a different way. The two teeth between the vacant space or gap in the gum have to be trimmed down so that a porcelain or gold crown can fit properly on top of them. A false tooth is soldered between the two crowns before the crowns are cemented on top of the teeth, and this false tooth holds and joins all the three pieces together. This bridge is cemented into a single unit onto the prepared teeth, where the new tooth fills the gap.Reasons For Choosing Dental Implants
The fact that dental implants do not require trimming down the neighboring teeth is one reason why one should choose this treatment option. Additionally, dental implants:- Have a long-term success rate, which is better than the success rate of a bridge
- Are the closest to a natural tooth restoration, in terms of aesthetics and function
- Are suitable if the span or space where the teeth need to be replaced is too great for a bridge
- Are recommended in case there is no adjacent tooth next to a space
- Are used if the adjacent tooth is not properly anchored or is loose to carry the bridge
