Implant, bridge or denture: which way to replace a missing tooth?

There are three ways to replace a missing tooth: a dental implant, a fixed bridge, or a removable denture. An implant replaces the root as well as the tooth and stands on its own. A bridge fills the gap by attaching a false tooth to the teeth on either side. A denture rests on the gum and comes out at night. Dentists usually suggest an implant first because it protects the bone and the neighbouring teeth, but each option has a place.

How does a dental implant work?

A small titanium post is placed in the jawbone where the root used to be. Over a few months the bone bonds to it. A crown is then fixed on top. The result looks and works like a natural tooth, is brushed like one, and does not touch the teeth beside it.

How does a bridge work?

The two teeth next to the gap are reshaped and crowned, and a false tooth is joined between the crowns. The whole piece is cemented in place. A bridge is fixed, so it does not come out, and it is finished in a few weeks rather than months.

How does a denture work?

A partial denture is a removable plate with one or more teeth on it, held by clasps around your own teeth. A full denture replaces all the teeth in a jaw and rests on the gum. Dentures are the quickest and least invasive option and are easy to adjust.

Side by side

Why do dentists usually suggest an implant first?

Two reasons. First, when a root is missing the bone there slowly shrinks; an implant keeps the bone in use, a bridge or denture does not. Second, a bridge requires two healthy teeth to be cut down, and if one of them later fails the whole bridge fails with it. An implant leaves the neighbours alone.

When is a bridge the better choice?

When the teeth beside the gap already need crowns, a bridge does two jobs at once. It also suits people who cannot have surgery, who need the gap closed quickly, or whose bone is not suitable for an implant and who prefer not to have a graft.

When is a denture the better choice?

When several teeth in different places are missing, when health or budget makes surgery unsuitable, or as a temporary tooth during implant healing. Modern partial dentures are slimmer than people expect. A denture can also later be secured on two or more implants so it stops moving.

Can the options be combined?

Yes. A common plan for a whole jaw is a fixed bridge carried on several implants, and a common step during implant healing is a temporary denture or bonded tooth so there is never a visible gap.

How do I decide?

At a consultation your dentist shows you what she sees, explains which options fit your mouth and your health, and writes the plan down so you can think it over. At Ivory Premier in Mandaue City, implants are our main focus, and we will tell you plainly when a bridge or denture serves you better. Request a consultation.