Dental crowns and implants are synonymous with smile restorations, with both offering natural-looking, long-lasting and functional solutions for damaged or missing teeth.
We know the feeling that comes with having damaged or missing teeth. It’s not a pleasant or happy one. It doesn’t just affect your appearance, it can also take a serious toll on your confidence.
Considering this, having not one but two solutions that can restore your smile is a relief. However, to ensure you are giving your smile and life the best, it’s important to make sure you choose the right solution between the two.
Now, don’t worry if you have no clue about which one’s actually right for you. Our team at Ashgrove Dental is here to break it down for you and help you select the right option based on what your smile needs.
So, what are dental crowns and implants?
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are like protective shields for your teeth. These crowns are custom-made caps that fit over your teeth to restore decayed or damaged teeth. But that’s not all they are capable of — they also provide added strength and protection to the affected tooth or teeth. If your tooth is still healthy and capable of being saved, then dental crowns are your best bet.
Advantages and Considerations of Dental Crowns
Advantages
- Repairs and restores decayed and damaged teeth by improving their appearance and restoring their shape, size and colour.
- Protects and strengthens damaged teeth while preventing further decay or damage.
- The procedure is less invasive and quicker, often requiring just two visits to the dentist.
- Helps restore the functionality of your teeth, allowing you to eat, chew and speak normally.
Considerations
- During the procedure, a small amount of enamel is removed from your tooth to prepare it for the crown.
- While dental crowns are durable, they may require repair or replacement due to wear and tear (especially if subjected to excessive force).
- They are not suitable for patients with severe damage or decay.
Dental Implants
Dental implants, on the other hand, are replacements for missing teeth. Built from biocompatible titanium, dental implants can replace the entire tooth, right down to the root. When the implant procedure is done successfully in the hands of an experienced and knowledgeable dentist (paired with proper aftercare), you’ll have the ability to enjoy a functional, long-lasting and stable solution to missing teeth.
Advantages and Considerations of Dental Implants
Advantages
- Dental implants can last years or even decades with proper care and maintenance.
- They can function just like your natural teeth, as they replace the tooth down to the root.
- Implants stimulate the jawbone, preventing bone loss that typically occurs when you have missing teeth.
- Dental implants are firmly anchored to your jawbone, ensuring stability and functionality.
Considerations
- Dental implants can be more expensive than other tooth restoration options.
- The implant procedure is more invasive and involves a surgical procedure.
- Certain medical conditions like diabetes or severe bone loss may affect your eligibility for dental implants.
While both crowns and implants restore your smile and its functionality, they address different dental problems and serve different purposes.
Which Option is Better For Your Smile?
Most of the time, it can be challenging for you to decide which option to choose on your own. As a result, you may find yourself in a situation where you are constantly going back and forth between the two, as you attempt to figure out the best solution.
That’s why it’s always a good idea to consult our dentist and get their recommendations on what’s better for your smile. With years of experience, knowledge and training, we can examine your mouth and recommend the most appropriate treatment solution your smile needs.
We get it — you want to make the right choice and be informed while making that choice. Here are a few key factors to consider when deciding between dental crowns and implants.
However, also keep in mind that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution here. Your smile is unique, so the treatment option will also have to be personalised to it. The best solution ultimately depends on your smile needs and individual factors like the extent of damage, oral health and location of the tooth.
- Restoration vs Replacement: Dental crowns help restore damaged or decayed teeth while dental implants help replace missing teeth to the tooth root.
- Longevity: Dental Crowns (depending on factors like the materials used and care given to them) may need replacement or repair every 10-15 years. On the other hand, dental implants are a more durable solution that can even last years or even decades given they are properly cared for and maintained).
- Appearance and Function: Both dental crowns and implants offer a natural look and feel as they are customised to fit in with your existing natural teeth. By restoring the shape, size and strength of damaged or weakened teeth, dental crowns help improve overall function. However, it can be said that dental implants restore more function to the tooth by replacing the entire tooth.
- Maintenance and Care: Good news! Both dental crowns and implants require the same level of care that your natural teeth need. This includes brushing, flossing and attending regular dental check-ups.
- Cost: The cost of dental implants is typically higher than that of dental crowns.
- Healing Time: Dental crowns require less time to heal while dental implants can take several months.
As we’ve mentioned previously, the best way to figure out which dental treatment is best for your smile is by scheduling a consultation with us. We will assess your smile, understand your needs, walk you through the suitable options and prepare a custom treatment plan that works best for you and your smile.
Want to speak to our dentist about your smile problems? Contact us to schedule a consultation.
