Implants vs Bridges
Edmonds, WA
 A traditional dental bridge can be used to restore one or more missing teeth. In order to place it, the bridge needs to be anchored in place. The traditional method is to use a neighboring healthy tooth. Without the anchor, there is nothing to secure the device to.
Today, we can also use a dental implant to serve as one or more anchors in your mouth. Dental implants provide the firm post needed, and also creates a point of contact with the jawbone that is otherwise missing in the space of a missing tooth. At Perrinville Family Dentistry, we are happy to review and discuss your dental needs and restoration options, which may include the use of a dental implant.
We can surgically embed a dental implant into your jawbone to serve as a new tooth root when a tooth is lost. Once healed, we use the implant as a firm post in your mouth to anchor various prosthodontics, including a dental bridge. This allows for a permanent dental restoration that is much closer to your natural teeth.
A dental bridge is traditionally designed with dental crowns on each end and one or more false teeth between. The traditional method works by placing the dental crown over natural healthy teeth to anchor the false tooth between. This can be a highly beneficial treatment option, but there are a couple of downsides, including:
| • |
Altering an Otherwise Healthy Tooth: A traditional bridge uses crowns that go over healthy teeth to anchor the bridge. This means that we have to alter the healthy tooth by reducing it in size and shape to fit the crown. This is fine, but if possible, it is best to not alter otherwise healthy teeth. It reduces their strength and compromises their structure.
|
| • |
Not Having an Anchor: In some cases, the patient may not have one or either healthy tooth to serve as an anchor. They would then not be able to have a bridge placed without the proper anchor support. |
Dental implants provide a better alternative in anchoring false teeth. The implant is placed in a location where a tooth is missing, here it will serve both as a connection to the bone helping the bone stay healthy, and as a solid post in your mouth.
Full Arch Implant Retained Dental Bridge
With the placement of four or more dental implants, we can secure a full arch of teeth when all of your teeth are unhealthy or missing. This technique provides a full row of teeth that are permanently stabilized in your mouth. It is not removable. The All-on-4® Treatment Concept, and other alternatives in full arch dental bridges, will feel more natural, and once healed, allow you to use them more naturally. Following a period of healing, you will be able to resume your regular diet.
We recommend an implant retained full arch dental bridge as the preferred option when a denture is needed.
|
Hours
(425) 616-0620 
Gary J. Jacky, DMD