Dental bridges and dental implants are two of the most popular methods of replacing missing teeth. However, it can sometimes be difficult to choose between the two. If you've been thinking about getting a dental bridge but are still on the fence, here's why you may want to consider getting dental implants instead.

Long-Lasting

One of the biggest advantages that dental implants have over dental bridges is their longevity. Since dental bridges rely on neighboring teeth to support themselves and are entirely outside of the gums, they typically don't last as long as dental implants. However, since dental implants are placed partially under the gums and don't rely on neighboring teeth or structures to support themselves, they can last for over a decade if treated well. This means you likely won't need to worry about having your artificial teeth replaced or repaired like you would if you got a bridge.

Health Benefits

Dental bridges help to provide cosmetic improvements and can help you to chew more effectively. However, that's about the limit of how much they can do to improve your well-being.

Dental implants, on the other hand, provide some genuine health benefits in addition to what dental bridges can do. Since dental implants are placed inside the gums and reach down to the bones of the jaw, they can provide pressure on the bones similar to what your real teeth do. While this might sound like a negative, it actually stimulates your jaw bone to build more healthy bone cells, keeping your bones strong and supportive. In addition, this pressure can help to improve gum circulation, which may help to keep your neighboring teeth healthy.

Needing an Implant Anyway

Finally, one really good reason to consider choosing dental implants over bridges is because you may need to get implants anyway if you choose a bridge.

In the past, bridges were typically connected on either side to real teeth. However, it was discovered that this can stress surrounding teeth, potentially causing damage to enamel or the entire tooth over a long period of time. In order to prevent this problem, many dentists will recommend that you get two dental implants - one on each side of the bridge - to act as artificial anchors.

Since this process means going through the surgical procedure of getting dental implants anyway, why deprive yourself of the benefits they can give you? Talk to a dentist about dental implant restoration to find out more about the cost and additional benefits they can provide.