Single Tooth Implant or Bridge? Choosing in Bountiful, UT
You've lost one tooth, maybe to a crack, an accident or a root canal that didn't last, and now you're weighing a single tooth implant against a bridge. Both can replace the missing tooth. The better fit depends on the teeth on either side of the gap, the bone underneath, and what makes sense for your situation. This guide walks through how Dr. Anthony Baird helps patients make that choice at Millcreek Family Dental in Bountiful, UT, so you know what to ask when you come in.
Should I get an implant or a bridge for one missing tooth?
Both are solid ways to replace one tooth, and the right choice depends on the condition of the teeth next to the gap and the bone where your tooth used to be. If the neighboring teeth are healthy, an implant lets them stay as they are. If those teeth already need work of their own, a bridge is worth talking through.
Dr. Baird's approach is to lay out the options and talk through what makes sense for you. When you come in, we look at your actual situation and walk through what the process would look like. Then you decide whether you want to move forward.
How is a dental bridge different from a single tooth implant?
A bridge is held in place by the teeth on either side of the gap, while an implant stands on its own in your jawbone.
- A dental bridge uses the two teeth beside the gap as anchors. To fit it, those teeth are prepared, which means removing some healthy enamel so crowns can cover them, and the replacement tooth is attached between those crowns.
- A dental implant is a post placed in the jawbone where the root used to be. It fuses with the bone and holds a crown on top, and it doesn't involve the neighboring teeth at all.
The American Dental Association's patient guide to bridges and the Mayo Clinic overview of dental implant surgery both explain these steps in more detail.
With an implant, the finished crown is made to match your surrounding teeth in color, so it blends in with your smile. Once the implant is ready, Dr. Baird scans it, and the lab makes a custom abutment (the metal connector between the implant and the crown) together with the crown.
What if the tooth still has to come out first?
If a damaged tooth can't be saved, a bone graft placed when the tooth is removed helps keep an implant possible later. When a tooth comes out, the bone that used to hold it starts to shrink. In Dr. Baird's words, "A bone graft fills that socket and preserves the height," which leaves something solid to place the implant into.
"I do the graft at the same time as the extraction," he says, so the healing happens at the same time too. It isn't an extra step for its own sake; it's what makes the implant possible down the road. Mayo Clinic also notes that bone grafting may be needed before implant surgery when the jawbone isn't thick enough.
How painful is getting one dental implant?
Implant surgery is done with anesthesia, and the surgery itself is usually faster than people expect. Most patients are surprised at how uneventful it is.
Much of that comes from planning. Before Dr. Baird ever touches your mouth, the implant is pre-planned, so surgery day follows a plan that's already been worked out. If you're nervous about the procedure, tell us. We'll walk you through what the process will look like for you before anything starts.
A bridge doesn't involve surgery in the jawbone, but it does mean preparing the two neighboring teeth. That's one more reason the condition of those teeth matters so much when you're deciding.
Why do Bountiful patients choose Dr. Baird at Millcreek Family Dental for implants?
Dr. Baird plans each implant on a 3D scan of your jaw before surgery. He maps exactly where the implant goes, including the angle, the depth and the distance from the nerve. From that plan, we make a custom surgical guide that directs the drill to the planned spot on surgery day.
Single-tooth work is most of what he does. About 90 percent of the implants he places are single-tooth replacements, not full-mouth procedures. Many of those patients have taken good care of their teeth, and they lost one tooth to a failed root canal, a crack or an accident. If that sounds like you, you can read more about single tooth dental implants at our Bountiful dental office.
How do I pay for an implant or a bridge?
You can pay over time with financing through Sunbit and CareCredit, and if you don't have insurance, our in-office membership plan helps make ongoing care more manageable.
The conversation about cost is part of your consultation, so you know where you stand before treatment starts. We go through your options with you and what each one would involve. An implant and a bridge are different treatments with different steps, so it helps to see both laid out side by side for your mouth before you choose.
Missing a tooth and not sure which option fits you? We'll look at your situation and walk you through the process. Call us at 801-292-4009 or send us a message to schedule a visit.
Published by Millcreek Family Dental (Dr. Anthony Baird).
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