Crowns, Bridges, Dentures, Implants

Implant vs bridge work

06/30/2008 10:32AM

Question:

I am preparing to have the number 2 tooth extracted and either have an implant or bridge work done. I am having a difficult time deciding-the implant seems more expensive and more painful with a longer healing process but the Bridgework is more obtrusive and more difficilt to maintain but cheaper and less time consuming from start to finish.
what is the best choice for someone whose priorities are as follows: 1)the least amount of pain and discomfort 2)healing time 3)cost
please let me know more about the possibilties of infection or absess with implants and failure rates.

Answer:

Unless you have a wisdom tooth behind tooth #2 (upper right second molar), bridgework is not possible anyway. To answer your questions: 1)least pain=bridgework but only slightly less painful, 2)healing time=it depends on the quality and quantity of the bone there, 3)cost= it depends per provider; I cannot comment on that. 4)implants have a very high success rate, bridgework needs to be replaced about every 15 years on average. Hope this helps.

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Response by:

Julie A. Holloway, DDS, MS
Associate Professor of Restorative Dentistry
College of Dentistry
The Ohio State University