While bridges are a great long-term tooth replacement option, they aren’t exactly as permanent and comfortable as a dental implant. After living with your bridge for a while, you may have decided that you like the look and feel of an implant more. But, is it even possible to make the switch? While it’s possible for most people to get a dental implant in place of their bridge, it may be a complex process.
Our restorative dentists at Sincere Smiles offer both kinds of tooth replacements. We would love to talk with you about whether
Howell dental implants are a good option for you, and if they aren’t, what else we can do to create your ideal smile.
Whether you can make the switch to implants may depend on how long you’ve been wearing your dental bridge. Once you lose your tooth, the bone that once supported its roots begins to degrade. It loses the strength and density required to keep an implant in place. If you got a bridge relatively recently, you may be able to switch to implants without bone grafts. If not, then we’ll have to assess the health of your bone tissue before continuing.
If we determine that you have insufficient bone density to support a dental implant, then we can recommend the proper treatment or guide you toward other, more suitable options.
Many people who get bridges choose them early on in their tooth loss journeys. If you lose one tooth, the likelihood of losing more of your teeth is pretty high. So, while your mouth is continually evolving, your bridge no longer pulls its weight at some point. As you’re looking at the long-term replacement of your teeth, implants begin to look like a better option.
While the space you filled with a bridge has become less suitable for an implant over time, the abutment teeth have continued to live in and stimulate that bone tissue, making them better candidates for implants. We would have to assess the bone health of these teeth as well, but we may be able to use a combination of dental bridges and implants without having to resort to bone graft surgery.
Simply put, we could replace your abutment teeth with dental implants, and the implants could support your bridge. With every treatment we recommend, we will prioritize the health of your teeth and smile, so if your abutment teeth are healthy, we may try to persuade you not to replace them prematurely.
This is a question we’d hate for you to face, but if you are in this position, you aren’t out of options. We can assess your current situation for more specific recommendations, but you could potentially get the best bang for your buck with other implant-supported options that require less healthy bone tissue than individual implants.
One common complaint for people who wear dentures is their fit. Your gums are constantly changing after tooth loss, so dentures need to be re-fitted often. One great way to combat this problem is with a more permanent form of denture. With snap-in dentures, we place 4 to 6 implants that act as buttons for your dentures.
With slight pressure, you can snap them on and off. More secure than typical dentures and less permanent than implants–they may be a more cost-effective option for people with widespread bone loss.
Your smile is evolving, so your tooth replacement options should, too. At Sincere Smiles, we strive to create restorations that are beautiful, long-lasting, and comfortable. If you’re unhappy with your restorations, we want to work with you to find a better option. Schedule a consultation to discuss your options today.
You can
book online or call 517-200-9579 to get started.
We are proud to call Howell home, and happily provide the best quality dental work that Howell has to offer. At Sincere Smiles Dental, we are happy to help with any dental questions you might have.
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