If you have suffered any form of tooth trauma then it can seem like a huge problem. But once the situation has passed and you’re able to process the situation, it may come down to two possible solutions in the form of dental implants vs crowns. Let’s take a closer look at how to determine what you need and which is best for you.
Dental Implants vs Crowns – Which to Use and When?
Position of trauma
The choice between either procedure can boil down to the position of the damage in relation to your mouth. When you suffer tooth trauma in the front of the mouth (particularly in the smile line) it can be very different from damaging a tooth at the back of the mouth. The success or failure of dental implants often depends upon where they’re positioned.
For example, aside from aesthetics, dental implants placed at the front of the mouth are less prone to the excessive forces of chewing than they might be if one was placed at the back of the mouth.
But while an implant inserted into the posterior jaw can do the job, a porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) dental crown may be the preferred option in this case. Why? Because it combines both the perfect combination of durability and aesthetics.
Extent or type of damage
Another factor to take into consideration when choosing between dental implants or dental crowns is the extent of the damage. If you have a single missing tooth, for example, or a tooth that is so badly damaged that it’s better off being removed, then a straight one-for-one replacement with a dental implant may be the best option.
Alternatively, if you have suffered an accident or trauma where several adjacent teeth are missing then a better solution might be to go down the route of a conventional dental bridge or an implant-supported bridge.
Either way, one or more missing teeth gaps will be filled with a dental crown or crowns, rather than by a single complete dental implant.
Replacing multiple missing teeth in this way is less invasive and less costly than say an individual dental implant secured into each missing tooth site.
Personal treatment preferences
The advantages of dental implants are well documented. They offer a permanent fixed solution to restoring missing teeth, they’re long-lasting and appear natural in the mouth. However, they do require a surgical process to fit and several months of healing and follow-up procedures.
Even though a combination of modern technology and sedation techniques means that a patient is highly unlikely to feel any discomfort during the placement stage, there’s no getting away from the fact that they will still need to undergo a surgical procedure.
While this is the means to a highly positive outcome for many people, others simply can’t face the thought of undergoing any form of surgery.
Thankfully, the fitting of dental crowns onto existing teeth doesn’t require any form of surgical intervention and can also be completed in just 2-3 dental visits. It is, therefore, a much simpler process than a dental implant would be. Moreover, because there is no surgery involved, there is no recovery process to worry about either.
Ongoing care
As far as ongoing care after dental work goes, dental implants prove easier to take care of than dental crowns.
It is possible for instance, for a crowned tooth to become diseased. Sometimes, dental cement that bonds the dental crown over the existing tooth can wear away over time. This leaves tiny holes which enable bacteria to get underneath the crown and into the natural tooth below. This can cause the underlying tooth to become diseased and start to decay.
Likewise, any natural teeth fitted with dental crowns can also become problematic even when dental cement is good because the surrounding gum can also succumb to gum disease which, in turn, can spread to the natural tooth root and eventually up into the tooth itself.
When it comes to dental implants, however, the implant itself cannot fall foul of decay or gum disease like a natural tooth because it isn’t a living organism. So, from this perspective, provided proper oral care is carried out, a dental implant and the attached crown is easier to care for because it has less chance of being susceptible to dental issues.
Other circumstances
Sometimes, when it comes to a straight toss-up between a dental implant vs crowns, a range of other circumstances will often dictate whether a crown can be fitted to a natural tooth or not. A prime example of which is tooth reshaping.
For a dental crown to be fitted over a tooth, the natural tooth in question needs to be reshaped to accommodate it. This can be problematic when there is limited tooth to reshape.
The same goes for a tooth that appears badly broken or has insufficient tooth root. Dental crowns need sufficient tooth surface and tooth root to accommodate them properly. If there isn’t, then there is a chance that the crown won’t remain firmly in position.
As you can see, while you may be faced with the dilemma of choosing between a dental implant vs crowns, often the choice will be pretty straight forward given one or more factors.
If you want to find out more about tooth replacement options such as implants or dental crowns and how they can help you to achieve a healthier smile, then we invite you to talk to any one of our teams at No Gaps Dental.
As a multi-location dental group, we have 15 modern dental practices scattered across the Sydney Metro area – all staffed by highly experienced teams. Why not book a consultation at a No Gaps dental practice of your choice and see how we can help. Call us at (02) 8806 0227 or book online now.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.