Resin-bonded bridge vs Implant (teeth, dentist, infection, sinus)

[Trekker34]

Hello.

I am currently scheduled to have tooth 12 (upper left, 1st premolar) extracted and begin the process for a dental implant in about a month. However, I am wondering if a resin-bonded bridge would be a better option for me. My dentist told me that a sinus lift would be required and the need for the implant is something I have forgone for about 5 years. According to my dentist, the surrounding teeth have started to shift some. They also mentioned this can cause further loss of bone (adding to the need for the lift), which will continue to happen without getting the implant.

The sinus lift procedure itself doesn't bother me, but I am worried about an infection and what the recovery might be like. I have read stories from people who have had terrible recoveries and have dealt with all sorts of complications and others who said it was a breeze, nothing more than a day or two of mild discomfort.

I wish I could not have the implant done at all. This all happened about 5 years ago when half a crown from a root canal broke off. Since that happened, I have suffered no ill effects whatsoever. Apart from my teeth apparently slightly shifting, which I was totally unaware of, it's been something I have almost never thought about. The entire process for the getting the implant just seems so involved and invasive, especially the sinus lift.

Has anyone ever had a resin-bonded bridge? If so, was it something you chose to do in leu of getting an implant? I'd be very interested to hear about your experience and whether you would do it again or not. It seems like it would accomplish the same thing as an implant (stop teeth shifting) while being much less invasive, less expensive, and it wouldn't require "destroying" the two surrounding teeth like a "traditional" bridge would, though the resin bridge doesn't stimulate bone growth the way a normal implant would. Perhaps I'm wrong about all this but that's why I'm asking!

Many thanks!