Dental Bridge vs Implant: Pros and Cons of Each
The short answer.
Implants replace the tooth root and don't rely on neighbouring teeth, but need surgery in stages over several months and don't suit everyone. Bridges are quicker, but the teeth on either side are filed down to support them.
The two fixed ways to replace a missing tooth are an implant and a bridge. Dentists recommend both, and which suits you depends mostly on your dental health. Let’s evaluate the pros and cons of a tooth implant vs a dental bridge.
What are dental implants?
A dental implant is a small post, usually titanium, placed in the jawbone to replace a tooth root. A crown fixed on top replaces the part of the tooth you see. Implants can replace one or more missing teeth, and the finished tooth is designed to look and feel like a natural one.
Pros of dental implants
Because an implant sits in the jawbone, biting and chewing load the bone the way a natural root does, which helps limit bone loss under the gap. A 2019 review of 18 studies (another site) found about 96 in 100 implants still in place after ten years, and good oral hygiene helps them last. Implants can replace one tooth, several teeth or a whole arch.
Once healed, an implant handles normal biting and chewing, and you speak with it as you would with a natural tooth.
Teeth and the bone around them support the face. Where teeth are missing, the jawbone shrinks over time and the face can change shape. By keeping the bone in use, implants help preserve it, as natural teeth do.
Cons of tooth implants
While implants have many advantages, not everyone is a good candidate for surgery. If you have gum disease or a condition that stops your body from being able to heal itself, then your dentist will likely suggest other tooth replacements.
Dental implants are not a quick fix. The entire process from start to finish, will take several months. During this time, you will visit your dentist several times and may wear a temporary tooth. The treatment is usually done in stages, with each stage requiring a complete healing and recovery period before you can move on to the next. While some patients may be content waiting for their replacement teeth, others may want a quicker solution.
What are dental bridges?
A dental bridge fills a gap with one or more false teeth held by the real teeth beside it. In a conventional bridge, the false tooth is joined to crowns that fit over the teeth on either side of the gap. Other designs bond the false tooth to the back of a neighbouring tooth (a resin-bonded or Maryland bridge).
Pros of a dental bridge
A bridge suits a gap whose neighbouring teeth are strong and healthy, because those teeth carry it. It needs no surgery or healing time, so it is the quicker option if you want the gap filled soon. Bridges generally cost less upfront than implants.
Like an implant, a bridge stops the other teeth drifting into the gap. It replaces the tooth above the gum line only, so it cannot stop bone loss underneath.
Cons of a dental bridge
To place a conventional bridge, your dentist files down some of the enamel of the teeth either side of the gap so the crowns fit over them. This removes healthy tooth structure and can put those teeth at risk of decay (another site). In 10% to 15% of cases (another site), the nerve of a supporting tooth dies and the tooth needs root canal treatment.
Dental bridges require unique care and cleaning, so plaque does not build up on the gum below the artificial tooth. In order to floss in that space, you may need to use a special type of floss.
Bridges can last many years with care: a 2004 review of 19 studies (another site) found about 89% of conventional bridges still in place after 10 years. An implant costs more upfront, so whether it works out cheaper over time depends on how long a bridge would last in your mouth.
Implant vs bridge at a glance
| Dental implant | Dental bridge | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | Several months, in stages | Can be completed quickly |
| Neighbouring teeth | Not involved | Filed down to support the bridge |
| Surgery | Yes | No |
| Bone under the gap | Helps reduce bone loss | Doesn’t stop bone loss |
| Cleaning | Brush and floss like natural teeth | Special floss under the false tooth |
| Upfront cost | Higher | Generally lower |
| Still in place after 10 years | About 96 in 100 implants | About 89 in 100 conventional bridges |
Talk to us
If you can’t decide between a dental implant and a bridge, our dentists will examine your teeth, hear your concerns and recommend the treatment that suits your case.
Sources
- Is it common to experience pain after dental implants? (another site), Healthline
- Dental Implants (another site), WebMD
- Long-term (10-year) dental implant survival: a systematic review and sensitivity meta-analysis (another site), Journal of Dentistry, 2019
- A systematic review of the survival and complication rates of fixed partial dentures after at least 5 years (another site), Clinical Oral Implants Research, 2004
- Bridges (another site), Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
This guide is general information, not advice about your own teeth. Your dentist can tell you what applies to you, including the risks of any treatment.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
