Dental Implants Vs. Dental Crowns: Which One Is Better?

Your teeth were designed to be your lifelong companions. That’s why they are covered with minerals making them the sturdiest substance in the body. They withstand the wear and tear that comes with everyday use.

But there comes a time when you might be faced with either saving your tooth or replacing it. Then, the chances are you will consider going for crowns in Calgary or dental implants. These two solutions are excellent in dealing with tooth decay and trauma, but these treatments come with their benefits.

Choosing between them might be a bit challenging. So, we will examine their pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.

Dental Implants

Dental implants come in handy when your tooth is not salvageable, so you need to replace it. Dental implants seek to replace the entire tooth from the crown to the roots. They are able to do this because they are made of three parts, the implant, abutment, and tooth replacement.

The implant is placed in the jawbone, the abutment is a connector that links the tooth replacement and the implant, and the tooth replacement could be dentures, bridges, or crowns.

Here are some of the advantages:

• Bone Health

Unlike other tooth replacements, implants focus on replacing the tooth’s visible part (crown). They are designed to replace the crown as well as the root. Therefore, they will minimize bone loss since they are placed in the jawbone to mimic natural roots.

• Durability

First, dental implants near you are fashioned from titanium, a biocompatible metal. Second, the implants are firmly secured into your jawbone, becoming part of you. Therefore, you can expect that if you care for them as you should, they can actually last a lifetime.

• Practical Benefits

Since they are fixed on your jawbone, they provide the bite strength that other restorations can’t offer. Moreover, your speech will be restored, and your facial muscles will not sag since you have replaced your missing teeth and roots.

• Aesthetics

When you replace your missing teeth, your smile is restored to its former glory. Plus, dental implants are designed to mimic your natural teeth.

Disadvantages

• Time –Consuming Process

Getting dental implants will take no less than six months since you have to wait for your jawbone to heal before the procedure is completed. The only exception is when you are going for same-day implants.

• Infections

This is rare, but it can occur due to poor aftercare or wrong implant placement.

• Cost

Implants are not cheap. You will need to be ready to spend a good amount of money. Even though some insurance companies will cover part of the expenses, you will have to cover the remainder.

• Additional Procedures

If you have issues with your gums and bones, you will need to undergo additional procedures to ensure that the implant is secure. Some common additional procedures you might have to undergo are sinus lifts, gum grafts, and bone grafts.

Dental Crowns

A crown is not a tooth replacement option like dental implants. They are designed to restore a damaged tooth. You can picture tooth crowns as helmets that cover a severely chipped, cracked, or discolored tooth.

Crowns can be made from various materials such as porcelain, gold, silver, and other materials.

Advantages

• Pocket-Friendly

They are a cost-effective method of replacing damaged teeth compared to tooth implants.

• You Get to Keep Your Teeth

If you don’t wish to undergo a tooth extraction, tooth crowns can help you since they only cover the damaged part. Our dentist near you will remove the damaged part of the tooth, shape the tooth, and then cover it with a tooth crown.

• Less Invasive

The treatment doesn’t involve the nerves or the gums. Crowns only deal with the visible part of your teeth, eliminating the chances of having complications.

Disadvantages

• Damage to the Underlying Tooth

If your crown isn’t properly fixed or is loose, food and bacteria can accumulate, leading to infection. This can lead to permanent tooth damage.

• Increased Sensitivity

It will take some time for you to get used to crowns. People experience tooth sensitivity and pain, especially when eating and drinking cold or hot foods and drinks.

• Tooth Reduction

Your tooth will be reduced to create space to accommodate the crown. This process is permanent and cannot be reversed.

So, What’s the Right Choice?

Even though some people might assume that implants and crowns are the same, they aren’t. These two treatments serve different purposes.

So, crowns are used to restore your broken or damaged tooth as long as your tooth is still intact. Crowns are cheaper, and the procedure is much faster and less invasive.

Implants are considered a permanent tooth replacement option. They are the option you go for when you wish to replace a severely damaged or missing tooth. They look, feel, and function like your natural tooth.

In a nutshell, the best choice for you depends on the problem you wish to solve. Visiting our dentist in Chaparral Valley will benefit you since you can consult whether you need an implant or a crown.