What is the Cost of a Dental Bridge?
A bridge is a fixed dental prosthesis that can replace one or more missing teeth. It is a set of crowns connected to each other, at least 3. They rest on the adjacent teeth, which are called “pillar teeth”. These teeth can be your natural roots or dental implants. The bridge can be ceramic-metallic or completely in zirconium ceramic for unequaled aesthetics.
What are the benefits of dental bridge?
Aesthetic:
The aesthetic result of the dental bridge is excellent since the color shades and the shape are adapted to the natural teeth of the patient, so that the bridge fits in perfect harmony with the rest of the dentition.
Functional
The bridge can replace several teeth. For this, it is enough that the adjacent teeth are sufficiently healthy and it will be quite possible to have a bridge with a bridge of 2 to 3 teeth.
There are several types of bridges:
The traditional dental bridge made up of 3 adjacent crowns, which requires preparation of the abutment teeth (between $500 and $1,200 a tooth)
The bonded dental bridge fixed with glue on the adjacent teeth (between $700 and $1,500 a tooth)
The "Cantilever" which requires a single abutment tooth (between $500 and $700).
These different types of prostheses can be made of resin, metal, metal-ceramic, composite ceramic or entirely ceramic. The cost and quality of the bridge can vary according to the type of material used but also according to the fees charged by your dental surgeon. In any case, it is best to ask for a detailed quote to know how much your dental insurance will cover and how much the total cost of the procedure will be.
What is the difference between the bridge and the dental implant?
The dental bridge and the implant are the two most used treatments to replace one or more missing teeth. With the bridge, there is no invasive treatment and no risk of implant failure. In addition, the installation of the bridge is done more quickly than the implant because there is no phase of osseointegration (healing period varying from 3 to 9 months) to observe.
The dental implant, on the other hand, is a more durable solution, and makes it possible to preserve the bone capital thanks to the pillar which serves as an artificial root. It is an isolated treatment which unlike the bridge does not need abutment teeth to be placed. The adjacent teeth therefore remain intact.
Paying for your bridge
It is very important that you speak with your dental insurance provider and with your dentist to get the costs for the procedure upfront. Each patient and procedure is different, so it is difficult to estimate exactly what your procedure will cost. If your dentist’s plan is expensive, many offices will offer you financing options, so make sure you also discover those options by checking with your dentist’s office staff.
In conclusion, choosing between the installation of a bridge or an implant depends on different factors:
- The cost of treatment,
- The speed of treatment and its longevity,
- The aesthetic and functional aspect of the treatment,
- The feasibility of the treatment, in particular according to the quality of the bone.