A healthy set of teeth will not only provide you beautiful aesthetics but will also maintain your overall health as it will facilitate an easy intake of balanced nutrition. Missing or deteriorated teeth can make an ordinary task such as chewing food and talking much more difficult and tedious. When deciding a treatment option for missing teeth, patient often experiences a dilemma that whether to choose a dental implant or a bridge.
What is a fixed partial denture or a bridge?
- A fixed partial denture or a bridge is a fixed restoration that replaces the gap of one or more missing teeth. It takes support from one or more neighbouring teeth by anchoring them.
- The natural teeth from which a fixed bridge takes support is known as abutment teeth. The artificial teeth which fills the gap of missing teeth is known as a pontic.
- It is much more economical than dental implant.
Procedure for FPD
- At the first visit of the patient, modification or preparation of the neighbouring teeth is done in order to make some space for the new restoration.
- After the final preparation of abutment teeth, final impressions of the teeth are made which are then sent to a laboratory. At the same appointment, a temporary bridge is fabricated and cemented to the abutment teeth for its protection.
- Patient is recalled after the laboratory delivers the final bridgework of the patient. Temporary bridge is removed from the abutment teeth for the placement of final fixed prosthesis.
- Once the fitting of the prosthesis is checked, it is then cemented and anchored to the abutment teeth. Patient is recalled after a week for follow up.
Durability of Fixed bridge
- Fixed bridges generally have a life of 10-15 years.
- The abutment teeth from which the bridge takes support is still prone to decay or infection, so it can be responsible for the failure of the restoration.
- Therefore it is imperative for the patient to perform brushing twice and flossing daily to maintain a good oral hygiene.
- Patient should also visit the clinic for follow to ensure proper maintenance of the prosthesis.
Advantages of fixed bridge
- There is no need of any surgery.
- This option more economical than dental implant.
- It is less invasive than implants.
- Less bone density does not poses any difficulty in the treatment.
What is dental implant?
It is a surgical procedure which involves placing a metal fixture inside the jaw bones. The fixture acts as root of a tooth which supports an artificial crown and acts as a strong base for the crown. It almost functions as a natural tooth. After the placement of implant, it requires a healing period before it can support the prosthesis.
Procedure for dental implant
- The complete procedure takes 2-3 months. The surgical part involves the placement of implant and bone graft if the bone volume is not sufficient.
- After this step a healing period of 2 and a half months is provided so that implant coalesces and fixes with the adjoining bone. This phenomenon is known as Osseointegration. Till then the patient is provided with a temporary restoration for aesthetic purposes.
- After the healing period when patient reports to the clinic, an x- ray investigation is done to evaluate the bone level and to ensure that proper healing has taken place.
- Further an abutment connector is fixed onto the implant which will support an artificial crown. A custom crown is fabricated by the laboratory according to the shape, color, texture and contour of the natural teeth present in the patient. Finally it is cemented or connected with the help of a screw to the abutment connector.
- After the complete treatment, patient is recalled for the follow up appointments to ensure the maintenance of prosthesis and implant.
Durability of dental implants
- With 98% success rate implants can last upto 25 years or even lifetime. if proper care has been given by the patient and the dentist , implants produce the most permanent solution for the replacement of missing teeth with lifetime warranty on implants.
- As per the leading dental implant specialist in Delhi, implant demands more oral hygiene care than natural teeth.
- Flossing and brushing twice daily is adviced to the patient alongwith the use of mouthwash.
Advantages of dental implants
- It is more durable and possesses a better success rate than a fixed bridge.
- It completely functions and gives confidence like a natural teeth.
- It provides a better chewing efficiency and power strokes than a fixed bridge.
- Aesthetics and sppech are better provided by dental implants than fixed bridges.
- Patient can eat almost all kinds of foods.
- Patient care is easy as compared to the fixed bridge patients.
