Dental Bridges vs. Dentures
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February 9, 2019
Dental bridges and dentures are both restorative dental procedures that replace missing teeth. While bridges can be a long-term solution for replacing one tooth or a few adjacent teeth, dentures can replace an entire arch of teeth.
If you are looking to restore your oral function, Dr. William J. Couvelis offers dental bridges, as well as removable and implant-supported dentures at our Chicago Streeterville office.
Dr. Couvelis has been practicing dentistry in the Greater Chicago area for more than 25 years, meaning he is one of the leading professionals in the field of restorative dentistry. Whether you have questions about dental bridges, dental implants, or traditional dentures, Dr. Couvelis will guide you through all your options.
Here, we discuss the differences between dental bridges vs. dentures.
Dental Bridges and Dentures: Which Is Right for You?
Whether Dr. Couvelis recommends a dental bridge or denture will be based on the number of teeth you are missing and their proximity to each other.
The Number of Missing Teeth
If you are only missing one or two to three consecutive teeth, a dental bridge may be recommended. These prosthetics “bridge” the gap between one or more missing teeth.
If you are missing an entire arch of teeth, dentures may be a better solution.
The Location of the Missing Teeth
If you have a span of missing teeth in a row, a bridge may be recommended.
However, many patients that are missing multiple teeth need replacement in different quadrants of the mouth. If this is the case, a denture may be a good treatment option.
Traditional vs. Implant-supported Bridges
Bridges permanently attach to adjacent natural teeth, providing a long-term and stable solution to missing teeth.
Dr. Couvelis also offers dental implants, which can be used to anchor a dental bridge in place.
Traditional vs. Implant-supported Dentures
Traditional dentures are removable. The prosthetics are custom designed to fit comfortably in your mouth and restore natural speech and chewing function. They may also improve the appearance of your face by filling out your cheeks.
Partial dentures are often held in place by a connective piece of plastic or metal that is attached to surrounding teeth. Full dentures are attached to the gums using a combination of suction and adhesive.
Implant-supported dentures offer a more permanent solution to missing teeth. Dr. Couvelis will strategically place the titanium implants into the jaw. After three to six months, the posts will fuse with the jawbone in a process called osseointegration.
Once the implant sites have integrated with the surrounding tissues, a permanent denture will be secured to the implants. Some patients may only need four implant posts placed through our All-on-4® implants program.
Traditional dentures are generally more affordable than implant-supported dentures, and they provide a quicker turnaround time.
Because the prosthetics are removable and rely on a combination of bonding agents and suction, they are not as stable as our implant-supported option.
Find the Best Dentures Option for You
Dr. Couvelis has been practicing dentistry for more than 25 years. When matching patients with the right restorative solution, his philosophy is that “form follows function.”
To learn more about the differences between dental bridges vs. dentures, or to find out which restorative dental procedure can fit your needs, request an appointment today with Dr. Couvelis.
