This article, part 2 of 2, takes a look at the differences in benefits between dental implants and dental bridges and provides advice for patients seeking out a tooth replacement solution.
In our previous article post, we took a look at implant teeth; what they are and the various benefits they offer as a tooth replacement solution. In this installment, we shall be exploring Colorado Springs dental bridges, beginning with a definition of this technology and followed with a description of some of its shortcomings when compared with the sophistication of dental implants in replacing single and multiple missing teeth.
What are Colorado Springs Dental Bridges?
Colorado Springs dental bridges consist of a row of three ceramic tooth crowns that have been bonded together using exceptionally strong dental cement. The two peripheral crowns are fitted over the existing teeth adjacent to the bare socket – which are shaved and filed down in preparation – while the middle crown acts as the tooth replacement. The result is an aesthetic tooth replacement that is virtually indistinguishable from a natural healthy tooth. The fabrication of Colorado Springs dental bridges from highly durable and quality ceramics ensures that patients are able to use their new teeth to eat all the foods they love; however, this technology is not without its shortcomings.
Disadvantages of Colorado Springs Dental Bridges: A Comparison with Implant Teeth
The down-side of Colorado Springs dental bridges is that they require the two healthy teeth adjacent to the bare tooth socket to be sacrificed. These are shaved down by the qualified and experienced dentist in order to support the entire bridge through the placement of the peripheral ceramic crowns. Another disadvantage is that Colorado Springs dental bridges only replace the visible part of the missing tooth – the tooth crown. Now, like any muscle in the body, bone tissue requires ‘exercise’ or stimulation in order to stay alive and healthy. This stimulation is provided by the tooth root, so when it is lost and left without replacement (by implant teeth), the bone tissue in the jaw can atrophy and waste away. Bone loss not only causes problems to the stability and fit of the entire dental arch, but it significantly alters one’s overall appearance. In fact, advanced bone loss in the jaw results in those sunken and aged facial contours we generally associate with edentulous (not having any original adult teeth left) and denture-wearers!
So, while Colorado Springs dental bridges provide a great aesthetic and functional tooth replacement solution – and are initially cheaper to have placed than implant teeth – they do not last as long (10 to 15 years), they do nothing to promote the health of the underlying jaw bone and they require two healthy teeth to be sacrificed. Also, since Colorado Springs dental bridges do not replace the entire missing tooth, just the crown, they do not feel entirely natural and as a result, many patients have trouble adjusting to the feeling of having something foreign in their mouth.
Colorado Springs Dental Bridges vs. Implant Teeth: The Verdict
Dental implants match all the benefits afforded by Colorado Springs dental bridges and come with none of the down-sides. It is generally recommended by qualified and experienced dentists that patients always seek a long term solution to single and multiple missing teeth; one that will promote oral health, bite functionality and smile aesthetics for decades to come. However, if the cost of Colorado Springs dental implants has you especially concerned, then a bridge is certainly not a bad trade-off!