Whether you’re missing one tooth or several teeth, Dr. Julie Glud has several restorative dentistry options to replace them. Replacing missing teeth is good for your oral health and it is good for your wonderful smile.
Dental implants and dental bridges are two teeth restoring options. Dental implants are permanent teeth replacements that should last a lifetime if you take care of your oral health.
A dental bridge is bonded to the healthy teeth on either side of the gap where your teeth are missing. Once in place, artificial teeth – called pontics – span the gap and complete your smile.
Although you could choose from either teeth restoration options, there are some reasons why Dr. Glud may recommend a dental bridge for you.
Diabetes
If you have diabetes, a dental bridge is your best choice. Because dental implants require surgery, you are more prone to getting an infection while the surgical wound is healing. Additionally, wounds heal more slowly in people with diabetes, so it increases the chance that your dental implants will fail.
A dental bridge does not require surgery, so the successful restoration of your tooth or teeth is more likely. You will not have to be concerned with possible infections or slow wound healing.
Periodontal Disease (Gum Disease)
If you have periodontal disease, your gums are teeming with bacteria. If dental implants are placed, you have a high risk of developing peri-implantitis, a serious and potentially damaging infection.
At some stages, gum disease can be reversed. As gum disease progresses, however, it cannot be cured. But, with regular gum treatments and periodontal maintenance, it can be successfully managed. That means a dental bridge is your best choice since it isn’t implanted in your gum tissue. Therefore, it’s not going to be affected by periodontal disease.
Smoking Cigarettes
About one-fifth of dental implants in cigarette smokers fail. If you smoke cigarettes, you are cutting off the blood supply to your gums. Without adequate blood supply to your gums, the dental implant wound will not heal as quickly as it should.
Since dental bridges don’t create surgical wounds that need to heal, they are the optimal choice if you are a smoker. The integrity of your dental bridge will not be compromised by smoking.
Medications
There are some medications that may cause dental implants to fail. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are one such medication. You may regularly take this type of medication to control heartburn.
Another class of medications is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). You may take one or more of this type of medication for depression and anxiety. A third medication that may cause a dental implant to fail is bisphosphonate, which is used to treat osteoporosis.
If you are taking any medications that fall into these classes, you will get the best results from a dental bridge.
Jawbone Deterioration
Your jawbone health depends on your teeth. When you bite and chew, the jawbone is stimulated and therefore remains healthy. When you lose teeth, your jawbone loses density where the missing teeth were because it is not stimulated.
If you have significant jawbone deterioration where your tooth or teeth are missing, dental implants will fail. Therefore, a dental bridge will be the best restorative solution for you, because bone density isn’t an issue.
Dental Bridges in Lombard, IL
When you visit Dental Care of Lombard, you should know that you may still qualify for dental implants even if you have any of these issues. However, a consultation will be required so that Dr. Glud can review your health history in detail. She can discuss with you in detail which treatment option may be most effective for you.
Call our dental team today at (630) 629-5700 to schedule your initial consultation.
