What is the difference between implants, bridges, and dentures?
All three replace missing teeth, but they differ in what they rely on for support. An implant relies on the bone, a bridge on the teeth on both sides, and a denture on the gums and the remaining teeth.
| Item | Implant | Bridge | Denture |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it is held | A root placed in the bone | Connected using the teeth on both sides as pillars | Rests on the gums and hooks on with clasps |
| Drilling neighboring teeth | None | The teeth on both sides are drilled down to crown size | Almost none (a little for the clasp seats) |
| Surgery | Required | None | None |
| Treatment time | Usually 2–6 months | Usually 1–3 weeks | Usually a few weeks |
| How it feels to chew | Closest to natural teeth | Fairly good | Weaker, and needs an adjustment period |
| Bone in the gap | Helps preserve it | Gradually shrinks | Gradually shrinks |
| Care | Like natural teeth, plus an interdental brush | Need to clean under the connecting part | Take out and clean every day |
If I have lost one tooth, is an implant or a bridge better?
If the teeth on both sides are healthy, I usually recommend an implant first. A bridge requires drilling and crowning the healthy teeth on both sides, and teeth that have been drilled cannot be undone. On the other hand, if the teeth on both sides already have large fillings or crowns, a bridge becomes a reasonable choice.
- When an implant fits: the teeth on both sides are healthy, there is enough bone or a bone graft is possible, and there are no restrictions on surgery
- When a bridge fits: the teeth on both sides need crowns too, there is a major lack of bone, surgery is a burden because of a systemic illness, or treatment needs to finish quickly
With a bridge, if one pillar tooth develops a cavity or gum disease, the whole connected unit has to be redone. A toothbrush cannot reach under the connecting part, so it has to be cleaned every day with Superfloss (floss with a stiff end).
How are implant-supported dentures different from regular dentures?
With implant-supported dentures, 2–4 implants are placed and the denture snaps onto them like press studs to hold it in place. A regular denture rests on the gums, so it tends to lift when you chew or talk, but when implants hold it, movement is greatly reduced. The effect is especially large in the lower jaw, where the jawbone is thin and dentures tend to lift. However, you still have to take it out to clean it, and the connecting parts wear with use and are replaced periodically.
When do dentures fit, and what are their limits?
For people who are missing many teeth, or who lack bone and find surgery difficult, dentures are still a good option. A partial denture hooks clasps onto the remaining teeth, and a full denture stays on by suction against the gums.
- For the first few weeks you need to adjust to speaking and chewing, and spots where the gums are pressed and sore are adjusted.
- The jawbone gradually shrinks, so every few years the inside is refitted or a new denture is made.
- Force concentrates on the teeth the clasps hook onto, so caring for those teeth against cavities and gum disease is important.
For people aged 65 or over, both implants (2 per lifetime) and dentures (once every 7 years) are covered by Korean National Health Insurance.
What do I look at first when choosing a treatment?
I look first not at the one missing tooth but at how the whole mouth will hold up over the next 10 years. In a consultation, I check in the following order.
- The condition of the teeth on both sides: whether they can be drilled or should be protected
- The amount of bone: checked with a panoramic X-ray and CT
- The number and position of missing teeth: front teeth or molars
- General health and medications: osteoporosis drugs, blood thinners, and how well diabetes is controlled
- Whether more teeth are likely to be lost: whether the choice now will block the next treatment
Planning when several teeth are missing is covered in more detail in If several teeth are missing, is an implant placed for each one?
How we handle it at Wonjin Dental
At Wonjin Dental, we check the bone with a panoramic X-ray and three-dimensional (CT) imaging, then explain whether an implant or a bridge fits, and for implants we choose from Osstem SA, BA, and SOI. For front teeth, the shape and gumline are important, so we compare a front tooth implant and a front tooth crown together. People aged 65 or over can get insurance-covered implants, and prices can be checked on all treatment fees.
Frequently asked questions
How many years does a bridge last?
It is usually reported at around 10 years, but it varies a lot depending on the condition of the pillar teeth and how well it is cared for. Cleaning under the connecting part so the pillar teeth do not develop cavities is the most important thing.
Can I switch from a bridge to an implant later?
Yes. However, the teeth on both sides that were drilled once do not go back to how they were, so they need their own crowns.
I lost one front tooth. Can I get a bridge?
If the front teeth on both sides are healthy, drilling them would be a waste, so I consider an implant first. If there is not enough bone or an implant is difficult because the person is still growing, I compare a bridge and other options together.
