Is A Dental Bridge Or Partial Dentures Your Best Choice?

If you have some of your teeth missing, then you may be wondering whether you should get a dental bridge to replace them or go with partial dentures. Both options have their strengths and their weaknesses. It all comes down to which option you find to fit your own needs the most. Learn about the pros and cons of both bridges and dentures so you can come to an educated decision on which will work best for you.

The benefits of a dental bridge

A dental bridge allows you to have your teeth replaced with a bridge that uses your other teeth as anchors. Your natural teeth will be ground down to make room for a crown attached to the bridge to be bonded on them. These crowns are attached to replacement teeth that are positioned in the space where you are missing your tooth. One bridge can replace several teeth as long as there are enough remaining teeth to properly support it.

The process for getting a bridge is less invasive and much easier to heal from than some of the other options, such as going through the process of getting dental implants. Implants are placed under the gum and fused to the jawbone; a process that causes pain and has a longer recovery period.

The disadvantages of a dental bridge

A disadvantage of having a bridge put on is having your anchoring teeth ground down. This process can be uncomfortable. Also, if you put too much stress on one tooth in the bridge, it can affect all the other teeth connected to it.

The benefits of partial dentures

Partial dentures will be made to fit your mouth comfortably and they will replace your missing teeth without affecting the ones still remaining. The process for getting dentures is also one of the more non-invasive options, even less invasive than getting a bridge.

Partial dentures are made using materials that match the look and color of the rest of your teeth. You can also take the dentures out to care for them.

The disadvantages of partial dentures

Partial dentures sometimes need to be adjusted several times before they fit properly and this can be frustrating in the beginning. They will also take some time to get used to, causing sores when you begin wearing them. You will need to take them out and clean them daily, as well as after you eat certain meals that cause food to stick to them.

Take some time and think through this information. Take the advice from your dentist, one like David Semrau, DDS, into consideration and go with the option you feel is going to best for you in the long run.