That last flag foot ball game left you with several missing teeth. You have already decided to get them replaced. The question now is implants or bridge? Consider a few facts, before making your decision. Dental implants can be an excellent way to go, they offer a life time of service. This makes dental implants well worth the money. On the other hand, they are extremely expensive. A bridge is by far much less expensive, at the same time, they require far more attention, and maintenance.
Dental implants have the advantage of being far more natural in appearance than a bridge. Unfortunately, most insurance companies will not cover implants but will cover a bridge. Dental implants prevent bone loss, but not so with a bridge. The down side to implants beyond expenses is time. A patient can wait as long as six months for bone to grow around the initial anchor, before further work can be done by the dentist. The amount of time for a bridge is far less. Dental implants are far more comfortable than a bridge. Since they are permanent, you do not have to worry about slipping, clicking, or even falling out as you would with a bridge.
A serious problem can occur when dentists implant the anchor too close to a nerve or compress the bone. Such a problem does not exist with a bridge. An implant can be rejected by your body or does not take well inside the gum. Since the bridge is on the outside, this is not a problem. Unfortunately, a bridge can often times change not only the sound of spontaneous speech, but the quality, as well. This is caused by the bridge moving, and fear from the patient that the bridge will fall out. This may cause the patient to change the position of the lips and tongue.
When you stop to compare the facts, you will see that implants do not require the teeth on either side to be ground down, as required for a bridge. If the teeth are healthy, it would be a shame to do so. With a bridge, your teeth can be replaced right away. There is no healing process involved as there would be with an implant. Maintenance for an implant is less work than for a bridge. The implant requires only routine brushing and flossing, where as the bridge will require threading the floss under it to assure proper cleaning.
If a tooth next to an implant develops a cavity, then it is a easy matter to fill the tooth. If a tooth in a bridge develops a problem, then the entire bridge will have to be re-done. Generally speaking if the teeth on either side of the missing tooth are healthy, then you should probably go with an implant. If they are not healthy, you should consider a bridge, since the teeth are going to need crowns anyway.