There were times citing lack of technology , when if an individual was missing a tooth or multiple teeth, the adjoining healthy teeth used to be grinded & a bridge used to be fabricated & cemented in place. With technological & scientific advancement , ultra conservative treatment options started making more sense & larger public acceptance worldwide. Dental Implants were born & could very easily replace a single or multiple teeth without ever having to touch adjoining perfectly healthy teeth. Now one of the biggest drawbacks of a bridge is that you cannot floss or maintain the in between areas clean that easily, since a bridge is a continuous prosthesis. The supporting teeth tend to recede their gums & bone over a period of time leading to food lodgment & pocket formation , ultimately leading to dental caries , nerve exposure & in worst cases loosening of teeth & failure of the complete bridge.
Dental Implants on the other acts like a natural root of the missing tooth over which a Crown if fixed making it look & function like a natural tooth. You can easily floss the interproximal region & anyone & everyone with good healthy dental done can have them. C.B.C.T scan is a prerequisite to ascertain the bone & nerve structures before planning to place any dental implant. The procedure is done under local anesthesia & can be done in as fast as 20 minutes for a single tooth. If proper overall care is taken just like any natural teeth, dental Implants can last you a lifetime. Always make it a point to discuss everything in detail with your dentist before jumping to any conclusions & decision making. Health is our real wealth & one must not rush into anything.