We know how painful your toothache days are, especially when you have tooth decay and your dentist offers a crown or a dental implant. And we know it gets difficult to choose Crowns vs. Implants, especially when both options are effective, long-term solutions. But at least you have advanced solutions that could save your decayed tooth and maintain your dental health and function. And the good news is both procedures are pain-free, thanks to the modern advanced technologies used in dentistry.
Whether you chipped a tooth while enjoying your favorite candy or met with an unfortunate facial injury or trauma, you need to restore your decayed tooth immediately to prevent further damage. No one likes that space created from a missing, extracted tooth! To maintain functional dental health, create a personalized treatment plan with a recognized clinic for crowns and dental implants NC.
What is a Dental Crown vs. a Dental Implant?
Dental crowns or caps on top of a decaying or damaging tooth cover protect and restore the tooth’s shape and function. Crowns usually come to the rescue when fillings don’t work. Dental crowns don’t require high maintenance; one needs good oral hygiene. And crowns need replacement after a particular time since they may wear due to constant use.
Dental implants, on the other hand, are medical devices that dentists surgically implant into one’s jaw to restore one’s chewing abilities and improve one’s smile aesthetics. Dental implants aim to replace tooth roots with metallic (usually titanium) posts or screws that replace a damaged or severely decayed tooth. A dental implant acts like an artificial tooth and offers an alternative to bridgework or dentures.
When Do I Need a Dental Crown?
Consider getting dental crowns if you have the following issues or needs –
- To protect a weak tooth from cracking or cracking.
- To protect and secure a tooth with a large filling.
- To cover a dental implant.
- To restore a chipped, cracked, broken, or damaged tooth.
- To cover a discolored or stained tooth.
- To cover a tooth having a root canal.
When Do I Need a Dental Implant?
The following are the warning signs you may need dental implantation –
- You have an extracted or lost tooth.
- You want to support a healthy and functional bite.
- You must maintain a healthy jawbone and prevent bone loss or deterioration.
- You have loose dentures or a loose bridge.
- You have an infected tooth that needs extraction.
- You have a severely decayed or cracked tooth.
- You wish to correct your smile and sunken facial appearance.
- You have difficulty chewing food.
Crowns vs. Implants: Weighting the Pros and Cons
Dental crowns and implants are not one-size-fits-all solutions. If one individual benefits from crowns, another may find implants more advantageous. While it depends on one’s personal needs, it also depends on one’s dental conditions and the extent of tooth damage. To simplify your decision-making, here are the pros and cons of crowns and implants in 4 main parameters.
- Cost-effectiveness: Dental implantation is, no doubt, more expensive than dental crowns. However, this is a permanent solution, and you don’t need to undergo another surgery or replace it (except for the crown for a dental implant, which may need replacement after quite a few years). Therefore, it requires low costs for any future procedures.
Dental crowns may seem more affordable initially, but they come with future costs as you need to replace them after a certain time. So, in the long run, dental implants can be more cost-effective.
- Treatment Duration: The crown installation requires much less time as it is a more straightforward process and requires less hardware for placement. The dentist only has to bond the crown to your tooth with dental cement, which usually takes about 20–30 minutes. On the other hand, a dental implantation surgery alone may take about 1–2 hours. And it takes another 3–6 months for the site to heal completely.
- Eligibility: Dental implants are not for everyone. To undergo dental implantation surgery, you must have a healthy dental structure and function. Also, you must have an urgent need for dental implant surgery, and your dentist will only suggest it if you have sound oral health and a seriously infected tooth. Furthermore, you should have a strong bone material for the implant to fit appropriately. In contrast, dental crowns are suitable for almost anyone, especially those looking for cosmetic dental solutions to treat more straightforward issues like chipped, cracked, or broken teeth.
- Whether Replacement is necessary: The biggest drawback of dental crowns is that you need to replace them after a certain time, as they are subject to gradual wear and tear. Therefore, you need to undergo a crown tooth replacement to keep your tooth functional.
On the other hand, dental implants are permanent and comprise the entire tooth structure, including the root (that is, the titanium post or screw), the abutment, and the upper crown. You may only need to replace the top crown over a long time, but the remaining parts remain for a lifetime. Since you only need to undergo surgery once, the risks are lower.
With that said, in this confusion between implant vs. crown, your dentist would be the right person to decide the best treatment for your specific dental needs. You also need to mention all your existing dental issues and other health conditions to make the decision-making easier for your dental team.
Key Takeaways
We hope the above information will help you better decide on Crowns vs. Implants that suit your needs. Take your dental team’s help while determining your needs and dental condition before creating a treatment plan. But ensure to choose your prosthodontist wisely. Make sure you are getting good guidance and support throughout the procedure.
So, while searching for a certified dentist Reidsville NC shortlist the ones offering the best recommendation, long-lasting treatment care, and, most importantly, solid after-sale support.