Dental bridge vs. Implants?

Hi, one of my molars have been cracked for sometime and my dentist said I need a bridge done, but the problem is the dentist will need to shave off some tooths which I feel uncomfortable doing. Are implants a better choice?

Dental bridge vs. Implants?
I have implants so yes I believe implants are a better choice. I love my implants. You brush and floss them the same as natural teeth and they are just as secure. I hate the idea of ruining perfectly good teeth just to attach a bridge that might get decay under it and then you lose the shaved down teeth.





To the poster above. How can an implant fall out? Implants are imbedded into the jaw bone and the bone bonds so tightly to the implant that it becomes part of the bone itself. Depending on the type of crown you get it could fall out if you get one that is cemented in and something goes wrong with the cement but you can't lose the implant itself once the osseointegration has taken place (bonded to the bone). That is just goofy! Also it isn't painful if the tooth itself is already missing. Just a bit sore. If you get an immediate load implant you get the implant and tooth in the same day.
Reply:If the molar is cracked, will they be extracting it? If not, then all they'd be doing is crowning it.





However, to answer your question, I would prefer the bridge to the implant. Both are traumatic, but the implant actually has to be drilled and fitted into the jaw bone....NOT comfortable. Also, I had a friend who had an implant and the stupid thing was CONSTANTLY falling out. Just imagine swallowing THAT in your sleep. The bridge would be fitted permanently.
Reply:I have 2 bridges and I was also uncomfortable with the idea of shaving other teeth to accommodate them. I did it though,and I have had no trouble with them. Implants are an option, but they can be very expensive and it is a long process, involving a screw being put into your jawbone to anchor the implant in place. I was not a candidate because my jawbone was not wide enough to accommodate the anchor. Talk to your dentist... You may find that the cost of the implant is not covered by your insurance or you may not be a good candidate for this type of procedure.
Reply:I would go for the implants. The bridge is only as good as the anchor teeth. If they go bad, then the bridge will not be of any use. Implants are really nice. There are a few people I work with that have gotten implants, and they are really happy with them.
Reply:I have a couple of bridges and they are both fine. Implants are much more expensive and are usually NOT covered by dental insurance. Make sure your teeth being bridged are in good shape. Before I had my bridge done, one of the anchor teeth needed a root canal. Bridges do not hurt. They numb you and you are only sore for a couple of days. Much less painful than implants....less expensive too.
Reply:Skeeter,your smile is beautiful.Love the implants?