Some older adults with missing teeth rely on bridgework or dentures to preserve their dental function.Bridges require grinding down healthy teeth to function as abutments to anchor the side of the bridge without the crown.Over time, worn-out bridgework can be harmful for preserving dental function and preventing bone loss in the jaw.Bridges generally fail after 5-10 years as patients have difficulty flossing them.Therefore, root surfaces below and around bridgework become highly susceptible to decay and are not reparable.As a result, teeth supporting the old bridge often are lost, requiring insertion of longer bridges that further compromise dentition.Removable dentures often are ill fitting and usually too loose.In some cases, they don’t allow their wearers to eat and even talk properly. Many feel stigmatized, avoid social functions and feel inhibited from leading an active, healthy lifestyle.
Bridgework and dentures address the cosmetic problem of missing teeth but do not prevent bone loss.Permanent implants maintain proper chewing function and exert appropriate, natural forces on the jawbone to keep it functional and healthy.
For most patients, implants are a much better treatment alternative because they preserve the bone of the jaw, do not decay, and function just like natural teeth.
