There are many dental clinics that specialise in caps, veneers and dental implants Melbourne wide, providing patients with a variety of suitable options for damaged, discoloured and broken teeth. It can be humiliating and frustrating to dislike the appearance of your teeth, and it can be stressful to feel like they’re weak while you’re eating. In particular, losing a tooth is especially daunting. Whether you’ve had a tooth fall out or you’ve severely fractured it, a trip to the dentist might see you hearing the terms “dental implants” and “dental bridges”. Before you go ahead and look into dentists that provide bridges and dental implants in Melbourne, here’s what you need to know.   

Dental Implants vs. Dental Bridges

Missing teeth can cause issues that go beyond how your teeth look, including shifting your other teeth, creating problems with your bite, and causing discomfort. Dental professionals will often offer a solution that involves restoring the missing tooth or teeth. Two of the most popular restorative solutions include dental implants and dental bridges. But what’s the difference between them, and how do you decide which option is best for you?   

Dental Implants

Dental implants are most simply recognised as titanium roots and porcelain crowns that fully cover and improve the visible part of your teeth. They can be used to cover a broken, damaged and discoloured tooth or as a way to form a new one. Dental implants are a popular choice due to their long-lasting, durable and effective qualities while acting as an anchor or replacement for a missing tooth.    The pros of opting for dental implants in Melbourne include their natural and realistic appearance, their ability to provide a strong and sturdy solution, and their easy cleaning and maintenance properties. However, dental implants can be a costly option, as dentists will often use porcelain for its heavy duty nature. Most dental implants last somewhere between 10 to 20 years, meaning they provide patients with a long-term solution for any teeth insecurities or issues.   

Dental Bridges 

Dental bridges are largely different to dental implants in the sense that they’re simply a bridge between two teeth, used to fill in a missing gap of one tooth or more.

There are typically three different types of bridge that a dentist can use:   

• Conventional Bridge: Thought to be the more permanent of solutions, conventional bridges are a construction of two crowns with a false tooth positioned in the gap.   

• Bonded Bridge: Not as long-lasting as the conventional bridge and often used as a temporary solution, a bonded bridge is placed beside the adjacent teeth and bonded to them through “wings” at the back.   

• Cantilever Bridge: This bridge type is used when there is only one natural tooth next to the gap needing to be filled.    Dental bridges are generally an effective solution for missing teeth, with the procedure being less invasive and time-consuming than dental implants. However, they are not as long lasting as dental implants in Melbourne, plus poor oral health can lead to deterioration of bridges.

For dental bridges to be successful, the abutment teeth also need to be healthy.