Dental implants are usually the best option for tooth loss.
Lost a Tooth? The Hidden Structural Risks of Ignoring the Gap
Losing a tooth is like losing a part of your very self. It affects your smile, the way you eat, and even the image of yourself that you see in the mirror. But what is happening under the gum line is even more significant. Your jawbone, which needs the stimulation of a tooth root to stay dense and strong, is actually deteriorating.
At Lema Dental Clinic, Turkey, we not only fill in the spaces but also restructure the framework. Our patients ask us every day: “Should I choose a bridge or an implant?“
It is not just about the money or the schedule. It is about nature.
Dental Bridges: The Hidden Long-Term Costs of a ‘Quick Fix
For many years, the conventional fixed bridge was the go-to solution. It is similar to a bridge over a river—taking support from the solid ground on both sides to hold up a structure in the middle. In dental terms, this ‘land’ refers to your healthy adjacent teeth.
In order to put a bridge, the two neighboring teeth need to be shaved down—we are basically losing two healthy biologic structures just because the one that is lost needs to be replaced.
The Clinical Reality:
- The speed: It’s very quick to get a complete smile.
- Stability: It is stable and does not move.
- The Downside: You are destroying two good teeth to get one back. Besides that, since there is no tooth root to stimulate the bone where the tooth is missing, the bone will inevitably resorb.’
It is like an empty house among busy stores. If no one lives there (no root), the building eventually becomes dilapidated (bone loss) and this will, in turn, affect the stability of the neighboring stores.
The Dental Implant: Biomimetic Restoration
Professor Doctor Coşkun Yıldız likes to say that a dental implant is not a “fake tooth,” but rather a “new organ.” In fact, it is the only solution that provides a full tooth restoration including the root replacement.
When a titanium implant is inserted into the jaw, osseointegration takes place. The bone cells can identify the titanium’s biocompatible surface and they bond to it. This ‘deceives’ your body into recognizing the tooth is still there, so the bone loss stops right away.
Why we prefer this at Lema Dental Clinic:
- Safeguarding: We leave your other healthy teeth alone.
- Duration: Implants, if taken care of properly, can be a lifetime restoration. Bridges usually have to be changed within 10-15 years.
- Strength: Your bite power is restored to almost 100%.
The Turkey Advantage: High-End Tech, Accessible Care
Numerous patients from all over the world choose us in Istanbul because the biological engineering at this level is beyond their financial means in the UK or the US. However, the price is not the only reason.
With Dentist Polen Akkılıç and the team, we employ digital smile design and guided surgery. In fact, we determine the implant’s direction down to the last millimeter even before the first incision. For severely resorbed cases, Dr. Yıldız is one of the rare surgeons who can perform advanced zygomatic or pterygoid implant operations, where the new teeth are anchored to the cheekbone itself if the jawbone is not enough.
Head-to-Head: The Clinical Breakdown
| Feature | Dental Implant | Fixed Dental Bridge |
| Biological Impact | Preserves jawbone and functions like a natural tooth root. | Causes gradual bone loss in the edentulous area. |
| Impact on Neighbors | No effect on adjacent teeth. | Requires reduction of healthy neighboring teeth. |
| Longevity | 25+ years, potentially lifelong. | Typically lasts 10–15 years. |
| Maintenance | Brushed and flossed like a natural tooth. | Requires special floss to clean beneath the bridge. |
| Cost (Upfront) | Higher initial investment. | Lower initial cost. |
| Cost (Long Term) | Usually lower, as it is a one-time procedure. | Higher due to possible replacements. |
Frequently Asked Questions
That fear keeps coming up all the time. Frankly, most of the time, the damage caused by placing one implant is less than the damage caused by the extraction that made the gap. You will be numbed with local anesthetic, and most of our patients report that they only need to take some common painkiller for a day or two.
The answer lies in the work and skills of Professor Doctor Coşkun Yıldız. Most dental facilities let you go if you don’t have enough bone. At Lema, we can do bone grafting or offer you special implants (such as zygomatic implants) even in the situation where the jawbone is very thin or almost does not exist. There is almost always a way.
Usually, the implant program consists of two appointments. The first appointment is to insert the implant (3-5 days). Then a healing period is allowed for 2-3 months. You will come back for the last visit to have the crown attached. Some of our cases, however, are suitable for “Immediate Loading” and what it means is that you get your new teeth the very same day or trip.
Not with us, anyway. Dentist Polen Akkılıç is a specialist in aesthetic layering. We replicate the transparency, color and texture of the porcelain exactly to your teeth. Generally, under low or natural lighting, it is quite difficult to distinguish between the new and the old enamel.
It is an option, but dentures are “removable” for a reason—they are less stable. They only provide 20% of your natural biting force and you may experience bone loss sooner since they rub against your gums. Our aim is always to fix the problem permanently and improve your quality of life.
- Buser, D., Sennerby, L., & De Bruyn, H. (2017). Modern implant dentistry based on osseointegration: 50 years of progress, current trends and open questions. Periodontology 2000, 73(1), 7-21.
- Pjetursson, B. E., & Heimisdottir, K. (2016). Dental implants or fixed partial dentures? A systematic review. International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants, 31(Suppl), s124-s144.
- Albrektsson, T., & Donos, N. (2012). Implant survival and complications. The Third EAO consensus conference 2012. Clinical Oral Implants Research, 23(Suppl 6), 63-65.
- Misch, C. E. (2007). Contemporary Implant Dentistry. Mosby Elsevier.
- Sailer, I., et al. (2015). A systematic review of the survival and complication rates of all-ceramic and metal-ceramic reconstructions after an observation period of at least 3 years. Clinical Oral Implants Research, 26(6), 665-713.
