When you lose one or more teeth as an adult, you have several options to choose from to replace those missing teeth. Dentures, bridges, and dental implants are all commonly used to replace missing teeth, but dental implants last the longest of them. If you're wondering what makes implants the best, here's what you need to know.

Dentures

Dentures are one of the most common and time-honored methods of replacing missing teeth, but they're not necessarily the best or longest-lasting.

Dentures sit on top of your teeth, where they can cause friction and irritation. This can make them hard to wear for some people. On top of that, however, dentures don't mimic the way real teeth work. While you can chew, grind, and tear food with dentures, they sit on top of the gums, rather than going down into them, which plays a big part in how long dentures last.

Bridges

Bridges also sit on top of the gums rather than going into them. Bridges have their own issues that set them apart from dentures, too.

One of the biggest problems with bridges is that they're potentially stressful for your remaining teeth. Bridges are designed to be attached on each end to actual teeth, but as time goes on and you continue to use the bridge, it can cause wear and tear on those two anchor teeth. This could cause you to have additional expenses at the dentist's office, and it can also mean that the bridge can give out if those teeth are overly damaged.

Implants

What sets dental implants apart from dentures and bridges is that they're designed to be like real teeth in almost every way.

Dental implants do go down into the gums and are actually supported by both your gums and the bone of your jaw. This mimics the way that real teeth work, as a real tooth has a root under the visible part that goes all the way down to the bone. This helps to support the dental implant and keep it secure, preventing damage that could otherwise cause the loss of a tooth replacement.

In addition, the way that dental implants are built helps to support the jaw, which in turn helps to support the dental implant. Force sent through the implant into the jaw helps to strengthen the jaw and keep the bone at a higher density, which means that it does an even better job of supporting the dental implant. Bridges and dentures can't do that.

Dental implants are designed to last, and they work with your body's own ability to do it. If you want the longest-lasting tooth replacement method out there, choose dental implants.