My dentist wants to provide me with a bridge but I know that the two good teeth on either side of the space need to be reshaped. It seems a bit of a case of “1 step forward, 2 back”?
Bridges were once the only legitimate alternative to dentures, but now, if an implant site is suitable, to place a bridge on 2 sound teeth is not only stupid but perhaps unethical. Financially there is not much difference; often it is actually cheaper for an insured patient to opt for implants. Dentally, a bridge could fail due to the weakened supporting teeth fracturing, decay around the supporting teeth or toothache requiring root canal therapy. Sometimes apparently healthy virgin teeth just “drop dead”. The independent nature of implants is most attractive: the 2 adjacent teeth remain unchanged and if there are problems, the 3 units are remote and unlinked to each other. Your 3 tooth bridge could fail and then you might need 3 implants so, a bridge is more a case of “1 step forward, 3 back”! In summary, a bridge is the preferred alternative when an implant CANNOT be placed . And that is uncommon today with our minor bone transplanting techniques which can re-sculpture the top, the s
