Fixed Vs Removable Bridges
Posted on: 14 June 2017
Bridges are one of the most common--and the most effective--methods for dealing with the loss of one or more teeth. Yet many patients struggle to decide between getting a fixed or a removable bridge. If your cosmetic dentist has recently suggested that a bridge might be the right treatment option for you, read on. This article will discuss two key differences to consider when choosing between fixed and removable bridges.
Stability
The amount of stability between fixed and removable bridges is one of the key differences between the two. As their name would imply, fixed bridges are cemented permanently into place, meaning they cannot be removed or loosened except by a professional dentist. In some cases, the healthy adjacent teeth are used as attachment points for the fixed bridge.
In other cases, fixed bridge systems also utilize dental posts--in other words, metal rods implanted in the bone of the jaw. These posts act as solid and permanent anchor points to which the bridge can be attached. With both types of fixed bridges, once affixed in place, you will never have to worry about the position or appearance of your bridge.
A removable bridge does not offer quite this same level of stability. That's because, in this case, the replacement teeth are mounted on a plastic base that attaches to the adjacent teeth by means of clasps--not unlike the way a retainer fits into place. This means that the bridge can easily be removed for cleaning, but it also increases the chances of the bridge accidentally becoming loose or dislodged, especially when eating.
Cost
The increased stability of fixed bridges tends to come with a significantly higher price tag. This is true of those systems that use adjacent teeth as mounting points, as well as those that use implanted posts. In the former case, the teeth on either side of where the bridge will go must be carefully reshaped so as to act as anchors for the bridge. This necessitates extra visits to the dentist.
The latter case--that of post-mounted fixed bridges--requires that the requisite posts first be surgically implanted in the jaw. This necessitates one or more additional visits to the dentist. Compared to both of these solutions, a removable bridge represents a much simpler solution. It will not require drastic restructuring of your teeth, meaning it can be accomplished in a much shorter timespan. This allows a removable bridge to meet both structural and cosmetic needs at a fraction of the cost.
Share