Dental implants ‘better than bridges’
Old dental bridges need to be replaced with more permanent implants, it has been claimed.
The American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID) has warned that people wearing bridges which are over five years old are at risk of tooth decay as it can be difficult to floss.
AAID president Jamie Lozada recommended replacing bridges with dental implants, as it is a safe, precise and predictable procedure.
"Implants are a much better treatment alternative because they preserve the bone of the jaw, can be flossed easily, do not decay and function just like natural teeth," she claimed.
"Also, to get implants you don’t have to sacrifice healthy teeth, which is required with bridgework," she added.
Associate fellow of AAID Olivia Palmer said that the majority of bridges fail between five and ten years after they are fitted and are impossible to repair.
Mark Stetzel, the newly elected president of the Indiana Dental Association, recently told the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette that dental implants have redefined the dentistry industry.
