Replacing a missing tooth is an important thing you can do to take care of your teeth. Missing teeth can cause various problems, including difficulty chewing, difficulty talking, and feelings of self-consciousness about your appearance.

A missing tooth can even make your remaining teeth misaligned, as teeth will often shift when one tooth goes missing. When this happens, you may experience problems with your jaw, like pain while eating and talking.

Two Potential Options

Implants and bridges are two options for replacing a single missing tooth. Choosing between the two types of prosthetic teeth can be tough, especially because the process for installing dentures and bridges is very different.

Knowing the difference between these two types of prosthetic teeth, including installation, can help you decide if one type of prosthetic tooth is better for you than the other. Yourdentist in Bellbrook, OH, can help with this.

What’s a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is a prosthetic tooth that’s held in place by two crowns placed on either side of the tooth. The crowns are attached to the teeth that fit on either side of the gap in your mouth. To install the dental bridge, the dentist must shave down the enamel on the teeth to be fitted with the crowns.

What’s a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is a post that’s drilled into the jaw bone and then fitted with a crown that looks like a natural tooth. Dental implants require you to have a healthy jaw bone for the dental implant to hold its place. If you don’t have a healthy jaw bone, your dentist may need to do a bone grafting procedure before fitting you with the implant.

Is One Better than the Other?

Regardless of the type of prosthetic tooth that you install, when the procedure is over, you’ll have a tooth that looks natural and allows you to eat and talk normally again. If you’re unsure which one is right for you, your dentist at Bellbrook Family Dentistry can help you decide.

Your dentist will evaluate your dental health, including your jaw and the teeth on either side of the gap in your mouth. This will help your dentist make a recommendation. Call us today to learn more about dental bridges anddental implants in Bellbrook, OH.