While a tooth supported bridge is a reasonable choice, it does have some significant disadvantages over a Dental Implant. For example, with a three unit bridge the Dentist must grind off the enamel of the two adjacent teeth in order to cement the bridge in place. This process can lead to decay of those teeth. In addition, human bone needs force applied against it in order to stay healthy and in place. With a three unit bridge the missing tooth is replaced with a “floating” tooth suspended between two crowns. This is called a Pontic. Because the Pontic does not apply force on the bone, the bone melts away over time. This can lead to destabilization of the adjacent teeth, hygiene issues, and cosmetic challenges. In contrast, an implant recreates the natural anatomy and applies force to the bone. This keeps the bone healthy and in place. It also allows the Dentist the ability to leave the adjacent teeth alone. Lastly, research indicates that most tooth supported bridges fail with in fifteen years, often even sooner than that. While most implants, when integrated, last a lifetime. When you consider the “Lifetime Value”, lack of bone loss, cosmetic look, and not having to grind down healthy adjacent teeth, the choice most people make is to have the Dental Implant.