“Dental bridges are very old fashioned and have major negative long term consequences.”

   Michael Nugent DDS

 

Dental bridges in the past were the best dentistry could do to replace missing teeth.  Modern dentistry now has dental implants. Dental implants are the best and longest way to replace missing teeth.

Problems with dental bridges:

• Have to grind down healthy teeth to support the bridge.
• The bridge takes a one tooth problem and spreads the problem to adjacent teeth.
• Due to aggressive cutting of the healthy teeth, many anchor teeth will require root canals.
• Root canal teeth can have failures that necessitate their removal. Now patients have greater dental problems then the original missing tooth.
• Bridges fuses the teeth together making cleaning and flossing very difficult.
• Because of the difficulty of cleaning bridges, many anchor teeth get decay.  The bridge has to be cut off, decay removed and a new bridge made at the patient’s expense. Worse, the decayed tooth cannot be saved and the patient has a serious dental problem.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The above X-rays were taken today and the inspiration for this blog article. Patient had a bridge. The anchor tooth on the bridge has massive decay (decay outlined in red). The patient will lose the bridge and the anchor tooth due to decay. Now the patient has a huge dental problem that could have been avoided by using a dental implant.

Dr. Nugent has had to replace teeth on his father, father-in-law, mother-in-law, friends, staff members and a staff member’s daughter. Dr. Nugent utilized dental implants to replace his family and friends missing teeth. Dental implants do not damage adjacent teeth. Dental implants will never decay or need root canals. Patients brush and floss their dental implants just like their normal teeth.

Dental Implant v. Dental Bridge

A bridge does NOTHING to preserve the bone and gum tissue levels. The old saying “if you don’t use it you lose it” hold true in dentistry. When a tooth is lost there is no longer any stimulation to the gum tissue and bone. Over time the bone and gum tissue disappear. When a bridge is used to replace a missing tooth this bone and gum tissue loss can create large food traps. Furthermore, if the bridge is in the front it creates an ugly space underneath the bridge when a patient smiles. A bridge does not stimulate the bone or gum tissue. Dental implants are superior to bridges.

 

Dr. Nugent is a leader in dental implant therapy. His dedicates a large amount of time in his Pasadena, Texas Cosmetic Dentistry practice to dental implants. Dr. Nugent has helped patients in Pasadena, Deer Park, La Porte, Friendswood, League City, Webster, Clear Lake, and Houston Texas. Demand the best in dental implant care!

Experience matters. Get the best in dental implant care for you and your family.

Dr. Nugent was voted BEST PASADENA TX DENTIST 2010 and BEST PASADENA TX DENTIST 2011. These were the only two years the Newspaper ran the Best of Voting.

Come see why Dr. Nugent is “The Pasadena Texas Dentist”.

Visit us at 3421 Burke Rd Ste A, Pasadena, Texas 77504.

Call us at 713-941-8261.

 

Bridge vs. Dental Implant

It is important to understand the differences between a bridge and a dental implant. Let’s compare an implant vs. a permanent bridge.

How Do Dental Implants Work?

During surgery, a small titanium post known as a dental implant is inserted into the jawbone to replace the lost tooth root. Over a couple of months the bone will fuse to the dental implant. Then Dr. Nugent will take impression to have the lab fabricate the abutment and crown.

How Do Dental Bridges Work?

A dental bridge holds an artificial tooth (or pontic) in place by using two crowns on the teeth next to it. In essence, the pontic “bridges” the space created by the lost tooth. Bridges can be utilized to restore your smile’s functionality and cosmetic appeal while having the appearance of natural teeth.

Difference Between Implants and Bridges

Bridges and dental implants are both common options for replacing one or more teeth, although they differ significantly in some important ways. The main difference is that a bridge just replaces the crown of a tooth, but a dental implant replaces the complete tooth, including the root. The dental implant is anchored into the jawbone and stimulates and preserves the bone.

Dental implants vs. bridges: Advantages and Disadvantages

The advantages of dental implants are numerous.

Dental implants are sturdy and appear natural. Dental implants can last a lifetime with the right maintenance. Dental implants closely resemble your natural teeth in appearance and feel because they are inserted into the jawbone.
Dental implants don’t damage adjacent teeth like bridges.  Your ability to bite and chew again is restored to normal.

Cons of dental implants

Surgery is necessary for dental implants. Not everyone is a good candidate for dental implants. You must have enough jawbone density for the implant to be supported in order for dental implants to be successful. Compared to bridges, dental implants are more expensive. In general, dental implants cost more than bridges. They are, however, a lifetime investment, whereas bridges typically require replacement.

Pros of dental bridges

Dental bridges do not require surgery.  A bridge can be completed in weeks. Whereas, a dental implant takes months. Also, bridges are slightly less expensive than a dental implant.

Cons of dental bridges

Dental bridges rely on the support of neighboring teeth. Dental bridges, as opposed to dental implants, rely on the neighboring teeth for support. In other words, teeth have to be cut down to accept a bridge. Because a bridge is one piece, dental bridges are hard to clean. This leads to decay on the teeth and a new bridge must be made.