Dental Implant vs. Dental Bridges

Spaces in your smile can seriously impact patients’ self-confidence. To help complete smiles, dental implants and bridges are often recommended options for restoring missing teeth. As each procedure has its own advantages and drawbacks, it is important for patients to be fully informed before choosing the best restoration for their smile.

Dental Implants

Made up of three components, dental implants are considered the ideal solution for replacing missing teeth. During this treatment, titanium implant posts are surgically inserted into jaw bone. Over the course of recovery, these biocompatible components fuse with the rest of the bone tissue to create a solid foundation for the final porcelain restoration. As implants are precisely designed to replicate the shape and function of tooth roots, this alternative treatment prevents jaw bone resorption.

While implants tend to have larger up-front costs than traditional dentures or bridges, dental implants and implant-supported restorations are often considered long-term investments given their longevity. Whereas traditional restorations must be replaced or expanded frequently to maintain functionality, implants are permanent and can prevent additional problems from damaging the smile. Additionally, multiple implants can be used to support larger restorations like bridges and dentures.

Dental Bridges

Often the go-to treatment for tooth loss, dental bridges come in three varieties: the traditional bridges, which use a crown for each tooth on either side of the gap; Cantilever bridges, which are secured to adjacent teeth at one side of the gap; and Maryland bonded bridges or resin bonded, on which plastic teeth and gums secured to a metal frame work is bonded to existing teeth.

While bridges take less time to create and place than dental implants, this traditional restoration is only a temporary solution to tooth loss. As neighboring teeth must be filed or altered to support dental bridges, this procedure can unnecessarily damage otherwise healthy teeth, leaving them vulnerable to infection and accelerating deterioration. With this in mind, many patients with dental bridges find themselves facing frequent retreatment as well as more extensive restoration needs. Over time, these costs can quickly add up, making bridges a more expensive treatment in the long-term.

At our Lorton and Springfield dental practices, Dr. Snehal Patel is here to help you find the right solution for your smile. Whether you’re looking to replace one tooth or an entire arch with implants and implant-supported dentures or bridges, Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants & Oral Surgery offers comprehensive treatments tailored to your smile. To learn more, contact our nearest location today. 

Hybrid Dentures and Implant-Supported Dentures

When teeth are lost or extracted, replacing them as soon as possible is critical to restoring function and aesthetics to a smile. For individuals missing almost all of the teeth in an arch, finding a comprehensive restoration is especially important. Thanks to the versatility of dental implants, many patients experiencing extensive tooth loss have several options available to them. Hybrid dentures and implant-retained dentures permit individuals to take advantage of the stability and treatment longevity offered by dental implants combined with the same degree of coverage offered by dentures

Implant-retained dentures combine the coverage of traditional dentures with the security of dental implants. Consisting of an acrylic-porcelain overdenture, implant-supported dentures are ideal for patients who are missing all or most of their teeth in an arch. Implant-retained dentures are easily removable, snapping onto and off of specially designed abutments. This allows patients to easily remove their prosthetic for nightly cleaning. Patients with existing dentures or those who have used dentures find implant-retained dentures to be the logical step towards a stabilized bite and ultimately more functional smile.

Hybrid dentures, also known as fixed bridges, are an ideal option for patients who have healthy gums yet require extensive arch replacement. Unlike implant-supported dentures, which encompass the entire arch, hybrid dentures can be customized to cover only the missing teeth, allowing patients to keep any remaining healthy natural teeth. This teeth-only restoration also leaves the palate clear, allowing patients to enjoy their meals.

Which Arch Replacement Is Best for You?
There are a number of factors that go into selecting the best arch replacement for your smile. Starting with the condition of the dentition, patients with existing full or partial dentures benefit from the placement of overdentures. Additionally, overdentures often require fewer implants and therefore less bone density, patients with limited jaw bone strength are excellent candidates for implant-retained dentures.

The location of a patient’s tooth loss plays a significant role in determining which treatment is best for a patient. For individuals missing multiple teeth on the upper arch, hybrid dentures are often recommended as they do not cover the palate, and they maintain the aesthetics of the dentition.

Implant Consultation in Lorton and Springfield
Choosing the right arch restoration can be an overwhelming process with multiple factors to consider. At Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants & Oral Surgery, Dr. Snehal Patel and his team use advanced technology to help patients understand the condition of the smile and determine the best restorative dental solution.

By offering a wide variety of implant-based treatment options, our Northern Virginia implant dentist is able to help patients regain total dental health, function, and aesthetics. With consultations available at our Lorton and Springfield locations, Dr. Patel welcomes patients from across the Northern Virginia region to visit and learn more about the advantages of dental implants.

Dr. Snehal Patel offers: Teeth-in-an-Hour™

There are a number of advantages that accompany dental implants. Many dentists consider dental implants and implant-retained restorations to be the ideal solution in comparison to traditional restorations due to their diverse applications and overall lifespan.

However, achieving a successful implant restoration can take some time. Depending on the condition of the smile and the health of the supportive jaw bone, traditional dental implant treatment time can vary anywhere from three to six months. As a result, some patients may be hesitant to pursue dental implant treatment.

However, thanks to innovations in modern dentistry, certain patients may be able to skip the extensive wait time and receive same-day dental implants. Produced by Nobel Biocare, Teeth-in-an-Hour™ are same-day implant option that allow patients to enjoy the ease of obtaining a completed smile in just one visit to their Northern Virginia oral surgeon.

What are Teeth-in-an-Hour™? 
Teeth-in-an-Hour™ uses high-power 3D imaging to determine bone structure and create a placement plan, in which implants are strategically placed to provide the most benefit to a patient’s dentition. Once the digital surgical guide has been created, the implants are placed using computer guided technology. With Teeth-in-an-Hour™, prostheses can be immediately loaded onto the implants during the placement procedure, allowing patients to leave their appointment with a completed, fully functional smile. Given the precision of the surgical guide, there is often less post-operative discomfort experienced by Teeth-in-an-Hour™ patients.

Who is a Candidate for Teeth-in-an-Hour™?
Like traditional dental implants, candidacy for this procedure is based on a number of factors. In particular, patients considering Teeth-in-an-Hour™ must have a healthy jawbone with sufficient density to support the attachment of the implant. As a result, any preliminary bone reinforcement procedures, such as bone grafting, sinus lift, or ridge modification must be completed prior to the treatment. For these patients, traditional dental implants may be a better option to ensure they receive the best treatment possible.

Dental Implant Options in Lorton and Springfield
At Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants and Oral Surgery, our mission is to provide patients with lasting teeth replacement solutions. For individuals considering dental implants as a viable restorative option, Dr. Snehal Patel encourages patients to schedule a consultation. During this appointment, our oral surgeon can evaluate your smile and determine which implant option best serves your needs. With practices located in Lorton and Springfield, Dr. Patel and his team welcome patients throughout Northern Virginia.