Crown with bridge vs implant?

CuppaCocoa

Hi, I've had an upper tooth missing for years and years. You can see it when I smile thought my friends say you can't! I asked my dentist about an implant and she told me that the space was too narrow and it would look silly. She told me that she could crown the tooth beside it, reduce the size of the crown and attach a bridge to cover the missing gap so that both teeth would look a normal size. It would cost 1300. My concerns are that I don't really want to have a tooth crowned that doesn't need it and with 2 false teeth (as they may as well be) what about hygiene problems? No matter how hard you try I always find that if you have a crown there tends to be a slight smell off your breath. Should I seek a second opinion or insist on the implant anyway?

btkm8unsl0w5r4

lilybarlean wrote:

slight smell off your breath.

Eh no that not true, but bad crowns can cause gum problems so always go to a dentist that can do them properly.

Implants need bone and space around the implant to work. Also if the gap is much smaller than the tooth that should be there then it will look terrible. Consider orthodontic treatment to either close the gap or open the space for implant placement. A second opinion is definatly worth a shot. Maybe try a specialist referal.

eth0_

That's what I had, a crown and a bridge. I have it nearly a year and it's perfect. I was conscious of it for a week or two (the different texture of the false stuff against my real teeth) but I don't notice it at all now. I had a gap for nearly 10 years after some tool of a dentist took out a tooth because my eye tooth was 'coming down'...wasn't even above the tooth they took out.

I would go for the bridge if I were you! I don't have any issues with smell...I can floss around the crown just fine!

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Yeah a bridge is a good option often for missing teeth (not talking about you specific problem now) but implants are better because they keep the teeth seperate. If you have one tooth missing then maybe the false tooth would be joined to the two teeth either side if you get a bridge. Buy by putting the implant in instead then all the teeth, including your new replacement tooth, remain seperate. If anything goes wrong (all dental work will fail eventually and a 3 unit conventional bridge will last about 12 -14 years on average) then three teeth are involved with a bridge while only the problem tooth is involved with the implant. Implants cost more and require more time before you get your replacement tooth but because less goes wrong with them they work out cheaper and more time efficient in the long run. As always its you dental health and its up to you.

twanda

I have to get a gap filled in my top row of teeth aswell. I went to a 'specialist dentist' in Blanchardstown who told me that a bridge would not be the best option as the gum would eventually shrink back, and the bridge would be very noticible because of this. He advised an implant, which is going to cost me an arm and a leg because apparantly the bone in my gum is not able to hold the imlant and he will need to do a 'bone graft' just to get some sort of stable foundation for the implant to be set in. This seems an awful lot of trouble to me ( I am half-thinking he just wants to charge me the most he can) and I am toying with the idea of getting a second opinion. The only reason I havn't done so yet is because it cost me 150 euro for a consultation with this guy in the first place! If any of you have had a bridge for a while now, do you find that the gum above it has shrunk back in any way? I would be perfectly happy to get a bridge done, if it would last me even a few years without becoming obvious...

eth0_

Well how long have you had a tooth missing?
Mine was missing for nearly ten years, so the gum had shrunk back as much as it was going to, I suppose. I have my bridge almost a year and it all looks fine.

That bone graft thing sounds really scary :-( Why is the bone in your gum unstable? Did you have peridontitis or something?

twanda

er - about 12 years, so I would say I am the same as you in that case.

I don't know why this dentist is pushing for an implant - I would be happy with a bridge if I knew his tales of shrinking gums were not going to come true. The thought of a bone graft scares me aswell.

He told me the next time I go back I have to have 260 euro up front for nine xrays! ( i can't remember if I mentioned this already..) so I am really wondering if he is looking after me or himself...

Anyway, I have booked a consultation with O3 in Antrim for a second opinion - I want to see what they think as regards bridge Vs implant.
Another 150 euro consultation fee required but if it can save me money in the long run and also save me from a bone graft, then I really don't mind.

John Daniels

If the bone is damaged or insufficient a bone graft in necessary. It isn`t a big procedure and is done under LA usually grafting bone from a bottle. I have seen many cases where bridges don`t look good because of the bone loss. The best reason for an implant is that it doesn`t involve cutting the other teeth. If you get a tooth bridged there is a 20% chance it will be lost within 8 years compared with practically zero with the implant. If you are uncomfortable with your dentist by all means get a second opinion. Look in Golden pages as if you check out who does implants you will find you don`t have to go to Northern Ireland to get a second opinion for a reasonable cost.

DublinWriter

lilybarlean wrote:

Should I seek a second opinion or insist on the implant anyway?

Definately get a second, even third opinion.

I've got two implants. I didn't like the idea of bridging because a) would mean damaging the adjoining 'good' teeth to afix the bridge and b) I'm a grinder, a bridge would have put a bigger load on the ajoining teeth.