Dentures, Bridges or Dental Implants?

Missing teeth can be replaced with dentures, bridges or dental implants. Each option has its pros and cons, depending on the health of your teeth and your budget.

With over 30 years of experience in cosmetic and advanced dentistry, Dr. Schulz will evaluate your teeth and gums and help you choose the best option for you.

Dental Implants: A dental implant is a tooth that feels and functions like a natural tooth. It is a permanent fixture of titanium posts anchored to the jawbone and topped with individual replacement teeth or a bridge that screws or cements into the posts. Read more about Dental Implants here.

Bridge: A bridge is a dental restoration that spans an area that has no teeth and is connected to natural teeth at each end. A typical bridge consists of a pontic (a filler tooth) that is attached to two surrounding abutments (crowns). After completion, this bridge structure is then bonded into the mouth.

Dentures: Dentures, partial or complete, replace either the bottom arch or the top arch of your mouth. Read more about Dentures here.

To make an appointment, call 913-649-3313 or click here to request an appointment online.

Advantages of Dental Implants over Bridges

• Your mouth will be restored as closely as possible to its natural state
• Implants deter further tooth loss. When a bridge “goes bad”, it usually means the loss of one or more teeth that support the bridge
• Implants eliminate the need to cut down adjacent teeth.

Example of a successful dental implant

Advantages of Dental Implants over Dentures

• Your mouth will be restored as closely as possible to its natural state
• Implants are permanently fixed and won’t loosen
• Implants keep you looking younger by preventing shrinkage of jawbone
• Implants deter further bone loss
• Implants do not require adhesives
• Implants allow you to eat all foods

Fixed bridges and removable dentures are not the perfect solution to missing teeth and often bring with them a number of other problems. Removable dentures may slip or cause embarrassing clicking sounds while eating or speaking. Of even greater concern, fixed bridges often require the cutting down of adjacent healthy teeth, and removable dentures may lead to bone loss in the area where the tooth or teeth are missing.

Recurrent decay, periodontal (gum) disease and other factors often doom fixed bridgework to early failure. For these reasons, fixed bridges and removable dentures usually need to be replaced every seven to 15 years, compared to an up to 25-year life span for dental implants.

To make an appointment, call 913-649-3313 or click here to request an appointment online.