Losing a tooth can impact more than just your smile—it can affect how you eat, speak, and feel about yourself. Whether it’s due to decay, injury, or gum disease, replacing missing teeth is essential to protect your oral health and preserve your quality of life.
Dental implants and bridges are two of the most frequently chosen solutions. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the benefits of each so you can make a confident, well-informed choice for your dental health.
What are Implants?
Dentists use tooth implants to replace missing teeth by surgically placing a titanium post in the jawbone. Once the implant integrates with the jawbone and stabilises, it serves as a strong foundation for a crown, bridge, or denture.
Implants function like natural teeth. They offer:
- durability
- stability
- an appearance that closely mimics real teeth
To get tooth implants, you must have sufficient bone density and be in good overall health. The healing process is critical to their success. While the procedure involves several stages over a few months, many patients find the long-term results worth the investment.
What are Bridges?
Dental bridges restore missing teeth by securing an artificial tooth between two healthy teeth. Dentists prepare the neighbouring teeth, called abutment teeth, by filing them down and fitting them with crowns that support the bridge.
Bridges are a non-surgical solution for tooth loss. Dentists often recommend them for patients who:
- want to avoid surgery
- do not qualify for implants (due to health or bone density concerns)
However, placing a bridge requires reshaping healthy teeth, which some patients may not be keen on. While bridges can last for many years, they don’t preserve the jawbone like implants do.
Implants or Bridges?
Cost Consideration
Bridges cost less upfront than implants. Dentists can complete them in as few as two sessions, making them attractive for those with limited time or budget. In contrast, tooth implants involve surgery, specialised materials, and multiple appointments, which increases the initial cost.
Durability
Implants often last much longer. While a well-maintained bridge might serve you for 10 to 15 years, implants can last 20 years or more, sometimes even a lifetime. Over time, many patients find that implants provide better value despite their higher initial cost.
Convenience
Some patients choose bridges because of their convenience. Dentists can complete the entire process in a matter of weeks without any surgical procedures.
Tooth implants take more time. After placing the implant, you must wait several months for it to integrate with the bone before receiving the final crown or bridge. Despite the longer process, many patients feel that the permanent results and improved function justify the wait.
Long-Term Maintenance
Bridges require special cleaning tools, such as floss threaders, to remove plaque from under the artificial tooth. If you don’t clean thoroughly, plaque buildup can give rise to gum disease or decay in the supporting teeth.
In contrast, tooth implants are easier to maintain. You brush and floss them regularly like natural teeth, and they don’t decay. For many, implants offer easier and more reliable long-term care.
Aesthetics and Functionality
Both bridges and implants can restore your smile’s appearance. However, tooth implants sit in the jaw like natural teeth, so they offer a more realistic look and feel. You’ll likely be more comfortable while eating and speaking.
Bridges also provide pleasing aesthetics, especially when crafted from high-quality porcelain. However, because they rely on adjacent teeth, they may not feel as natural in the mouth.
Bone Preservation
When you lose a tooth, the jawbone in the affected area can slowly shrink, which may change your appearance and affect your overall dental health. Tooth implants help preserve the jawbone by replicating the function of a tooth root. They stimulate the bone and prevent resorption.
Bridges, on the other hand, don’t interact with the jawbone in the same way. If bone preservation is important to you, implants offer a clear advantage.
Which One is Right for You?
Your dentist will take your oral health, jawbone structure, medical history, and personal goals into account before recommending a treatment. But here are some general pointers to note.
Choose a dental bridge if you:
- Prefer a non-surgical procedure
- Have healthy teeth next to the gap to support the bridge
- Want a more affordable upfront cost
- Need a solution that can be completed in just a few weeks
Choose a tooth implant if you:
- Want a long-lasting, durable solution
- Are looking to preserve your jawbone and facial structure
- Prefer a result that feels and functions like a natural tooth
- Are willing to undergo a surgical procedure with a longer treatment timeline
Looking for Tooth Implants in Singapore?
It can be tough choosing between a tooth implant and a bridge, but you don’t have to do this alone.
At Orchard Scotts Dental, we’ll guide you through every stage of treatment. Our clinic offers personalised care, factoring your long-term dental health with every treatment.
Book a consultation with Orchard Scotts Dental today.