Dentures Vs Bridges – All Of The Differences Explained

We need teeth … all of our teeth. When a person smiles without all of their teeth present, it’s not pretty. After elementary school, people don’t think it’s cute when your front teeth are missing, right? 

Sure, people might ask you to recite things like “she sells seashells by the seashore.” But as an adult they are not laughing with you, they are laughing at you. 

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So, if that hockey game knocks your teeth out, you would not leave a permanent gap. You want those teeth for chewing and flashing a pretty smile, not for scaring away the birds and little people.

You need to fix it, so you have a decision to make. Will you fill in that gap with a partial denture or a bridge? 

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What are Partial Dentures?

Some people may refer to a partial denture as a partial plate—they mean the same thing. A partial denture can be made of plastic or a combination of metal and plastic. Attached to the metal/plastic appliance is one false tooth or a few false teeth.

The plate will fasten to your remaining adjacent teeth to stay in place. Because you fasten it in place yourself, it only makes sense that it is removable.

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What is a Bridge?

A bridge is kinda what it sounds like. It bridges the gap between your teeth. More specifically, a bridge is an appliance that contains a specific portion of false teeth with a crown on both ends.

The crown on each end will sit right on top of your existing teeth. When that crown is secured into place, it will also hold the entire bridge appliance in place. 

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Dentures Vs. Bridges

Alrighty. Now that you know what partial dentures and bridges are, we can get into the nitty-gritty of it all and give you enough information to make an educated, informed decision. 

Here we go …

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Partial Dentures

Partial dentures can be a little gentler on your pocketbook if you opt for the version made entirely of plastic. So, you can save a few pennies by choosing this option.

But. 

Sometimes you get what you pay for. Lower price is going to deliver a lesser-quality product that isn’t as reliable as the partial denture with a combination of metal and plastic. 

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Not to mention, the plastic plate can also cause damage to your perfectly healthy teeth if it’s not fitted just right. That also means it might be a little loose in your mouth. Picture yourself trying to talk and eat with an appliance that is wiggling inside your mouth.

So, you’ll pay a little more for the combination appliance that has both plastic and metal. That extra money will ensure that you have a stronger plate that is less likely to cause damage to the adjacent teeth and will sit more snugly in your mouth than a piece made entirely of plastic.

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How long can you expect a partial denture appliance to last? Well, you can probably expect to replace it every five years. 

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The Good News About Partial Dentures

Like we already told you, choosing a partial denture is a more affordable option for replacing several missing teeth and is typically covered by your dental insurance plan. 

No surgery is required. You can fix your missing-tooth gaps without any invasive procedures. No grinding down of your teeth or surgery will be needed to fix your gap. 

You can correct several teeth at once with partial dentures. Basically, you can replace two molars on one side and your missing incisor and eye tooth on the other side with partial dentures. 

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The Bad News About Partial Dentures

They are an adjustment. Those new dentures can take a while to get used to and it can be pretty annoying. They’re not going to be worn without noticing them sitting in your mouth.

Partial dentures come with an expectation for cleaning. You can expect to remove them every single day. They must be properly brushed and cared for on a consistent daily basis in order to maintain the health of your mouth and to keep them looking nice.

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They fasten into your mouth with the help of other teeth. That’s it. There is nothing else keeping them in place. This means there is a decent chance that you’ll experience shifting while you’re wearing them. 

Let’s just say … eating corn on the cob is not a great idea.

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Bridges

So, you have probably gathered that having a bridge put in your mouth is going to cost more than dentures. 

A bridge is also called a fixed bridge or dental bridge, and it is not removable. Once it is attached to the adjacent teeth, it’s in there. 

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Your abutment (adjacent) teeth will need to be modified in order to have a good fit underneath those attached crowns. More than likely those teeth will need to be filed down in order to make this happen. It’s invasive, to say the least. 

Your new bridge can be made out of various metal alloys, gold, or porcelain.  It’s up to you and your dentist to decide which is the best option for you.

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There are three types of bridges:

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Maryland Bonded a.k.a. Resin Bonded. This type of bridge is composed of porcelain, plastic pieces bonded to a metal and porcelain base, or porcelain attached to metal. The metal or porcelain wings on the sides of the crown are attached to the teeth that surround the bridge.

Traditional. This is typically going to be the type of bridge people have. It’s composed of porcelain and metal or ceramics. It’s just like we mentioned earlier, crowns go over the adjacent teeth with a false tooth situated in between. 

Cantilever. This may be a solution if you only have one tooth near the missing tooth instead of two teeth. This situation doesn’t happen very often.

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The Good News About Bridges

They look decent. Most bridges look fairly natural within your existing smile because they are made of porcelain which basically mimics the look and feel of your tooth enamel.

That bridge is going to be pretty secure inside your mouth. They are not going to move around while you eat or speak. 

You can leave it in. Well, you have to leave it in. 

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The Bad News About Bridges

Bridges are not budget-friendly. They are going to cost more than dentures.

Say goodbye to some of your healthy enamel. To put on those crowns, healthy enamel will need to be removed from the affected teeth.

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Cleaning is not easy. You will have a new dental routine that requires specific tools and tricks to keep your bridge clean.

There you have it. The good, the bad, and the ugly about dentures vs. bridges! 

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Now … What is the BEST Solution to Replace Missing Teeth?

If you want a solution that gives you a beautifully permanent smile within twenty-four hours, please consider a free online evaluation with Nuvia. We would love to work with you to give you the best solution possible.

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Nuvia dental implants trump bridges and dentures, hands down. There is never ever a question of a secure fit. They look and feel so much more like your natural teeth than any set of dentures or a bridge ever could.  

So, before you go all crazy and lock yourself into a set of teeth that probably won’t fit well, please reach out to us. Let us help you find your smile again.