Treatment Options Compared

Treatment Options Compared

Choosing the smile restoration that’s best for you is an important decision. As your trusted implant dentists in Northridge, Dr. Terence Lau and Dr. Casey Lau want you to feel confident in whichever tooth replacement option you ultimately choose. Whether you’re missing one tooth, more than one teeth, or an entire arch, it’s important to explore all your options when selecting a restorative treatment.

Historically, dental bridges have been used to replace one tooth or several adjacent missing teeth. Made of porcelain, bridges are held in place using crowns which are attached to neighboring healthy teeth. As a result, patients can continue to perform regular dental hygiene activities without removing the actual bridge.

Replacing Single Missing Teeth with Dental Bridges

While bridges have proven successful in the short term, there are some major drawbacks. For starters, dental bridges typically last about 5 to 10 years, so they will need replacing. It can also be difficult to clean around dental bridges, and this can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Likewise, because bridges are held in place with crowns rather than secured via implant, they don’t interact with the bone tissue as they should. This means dental bridges do nothing to protect you against the disintegration (resorption) of your jawbone.

Dentures

Dentures are a common restoration that have been around for centuries. Today’s dentures are not only the most economical way to restore your smile, they’re also much more attractive than they were in the past .

Unfortunately, there are still a lot of reasons why dentures are an imperfect solution for restoring your smile, especially when compared to dental implants. While their removable nature means they can be cleaned easily each day, dentures can slide around when you’re eating or speaking.

Eating with dentures can also be painful, which often causes patients to avoid healthy meals or swallow their food without completely chewing it, leading to nutritional and digestive problems. Over time, dentures can also distort the shape and strength of the jawbone, which can lead to serious oral health consequences.

Dental Implants–An Investment in Your Smile

Dentures and dental bridges simply don’t measure up to dental implants. Dental implants look and feel fantastic, as they are custom-made to perfectly match your smile. Because they are permanently placed in your jawbone, you never need to remove your implants for cleaning. Instead, you brush and floss them just like you would with your natural teeth. Dental implants are meant to last a lifetime when they’re given the proper care.

With dental implants, you’re free to eat your favorite foods and enjoy the benefits of a natural smile. In fact, dental implants won’t interfere with the way you speak and they’ll help maintain the natural shape of your face. Unlike dentures and dental bridges, dental implants are designed to enhance the overall health of your smile and help prevent jawbone disintegration for a strong and healthy smile you’ll be proud to show off.