Crown on implant. Vs. bridge on teeth

1. Preservation of Adjacent Teeth Health

• Implants: Do not require the grinding of adjacent teeth. The implant is placed directly into the bone, which means that the neighboring teeth remain untouched.
• Bridges: Require grinding and shaping of adjacent teeth to serve as a support for the bridge. This procedure weakens healthy teeth and shortens their lifespan. Root canal treatment is often also necessary.

2. Prevention of Bone Loss

• Implants: Provide natural loading of the jawbone tissue and help prevent its loss, which usually follows the loss of teeth, thus helping to maintain facial structure.
• Bridges: Do not prevent bone loss beneath the site of the missing tooth because they do not provide bone stimulation.

3. Long-term Durability and Lifespan

• Implants: Offer better long-term value due to their high resilience and durability. With proper care, implants can serve for a lifetime.
• Bridges: Generally have a shorter lifespan than implants and may require replacement every 10-15 years.

4. Ease of Maintenance

• Implants: Can be cleaned and cared for just like natural teeth, which facilitates the maintenance of good oral hygiene.
• Bridges: Require special care, especially under the bridge. They are more demanding in terms of maintenance.

5. Aesthetic Appearance and Feel

• Implants: Provide a very natural look and feel, as they are designed to mimic your natural teeth.
• Bridges: Although they can look natural, they may not always exactly match the appearance or function of natural teeth.

6. Improved Functionality

• Implants: Offer better chewing power and do not restrict the ability to consume certain foods.
• Bridges: Can sometimes be limiting when consuming hard or sticky foods.

7. Cost Comparison

• Implants: The cost of a multi-unit ceramic bridge is comparable to the price of a dental implant. From a long-term perspective, implants are a substantially better choice due to their long-term durability and the potential savings on future replacements or repairs. Implants also eliminate the need to grind down adjacent healthy teeth, a factor that can significantly influence the overall cost of treatment.
• Bridges: When considering the need for bridge replacements over time and possible costs associated with treating damaged support teeth or addressing bone loss, the overall costs can be higher than for an implant.