Dental crowns and bridges are typically recommended to patients with a missing tooth. These restoration solutions aim to reinstate your natural smile by restoring your lost tooth with the use of a dental crown and a dental bridge. BDG’s clinic located in Glenmore Park explains that these two need to be attached to dental implants which are surgically placed in the jawbone.
What Is A Dental Crown
Before we proceed to the differences between a dental crown and a dental bridge, let us first understand an important component that supports these two. The dental implants.
Dental implants are placed in the jawbone to provide support for crowns or bridges. They serve as replacement tooth roots to make sure that the crown or bridge is properly affixed.
Going back to the dental crown, this is a method used to restore a damaged tooth. Usually, if the tooth is still savable and does not need an extraction, dentists suggest a dental crown. Decaying, damaged, chipped, or cracked teeth are often saved by this restoration.
A dental crown significantly helps in maintaining the size, shape, strength, and appearance of a broken tooth. The crown can be made of various materials, you can choose from ceramic, metal alloys, or porcelain. Each of these has its own advantages, metals, for example, are more durable and less expensive, the only downside is that they don’t look like your natural teeth. Porcelain and ceramic options can give you a more natural-looking tooth replacement, however, they are quite prone to damage especially if they are not bonded to a metal.
Pros And Cons of A Dental Crown
Crowns can be very beneficial in maintaining your oral health. They basically enhance your appearance by restoring your natural smile. In line with this, listed below are some of the reasons why crowns are important:
- Provides support to a decayed or damaged tooth
- Prevents the broken tooth from being damaged further
- Protects the tooth after a root canal treatment
- Covers the dental implant
- Improve the appearance of the broken tooth
Despite their advantages, crowns also pose different drawbacks such as follows:
- Some patients experience tooth sensitivity.
- Pain while chewing or biting.
- Porcelain crowns may easily break.
- Crowns have the tendency to become loose, paving the way for bacteria.
- Allergic reactions may take place.
- Crowns are expensive compared to other restorative treatments.
What Is A Dental Bridge?
The main purpose of dental bridges is to replace a missing tooth. Bridges are designed to fill in the gaps between healthy teeth. This restorative dental treatment aims to restore the natural look of the smile and the functions of the missing teeth. A dental bridge can be made of one or more false teeth depending on the number of missing teeth.
Dental bridges come in different forms as well. Just like crowns, you can choose from porcelain, acrylic, ceramic, metal alloys, and gold. In addition to this, bridges have 4 different kinds that cater to the patient’s specific needs.
The first one is the traditional dental bridge. This is the most common type of bridge that can be composed of one or more false teeth. This is typically used to fill in the gap between two natural teeth and are placed on dental crowns (abutments) from both sides.
Next on the list is the cantilever bridge, this is somehow the same with traditional bridges, the only difference is that a cantilever bridge is supported by one abutment only.
The third kind of bridge is called the Maryland bridge. in comparison to the first 2 types of bridges, this one does not need the support of crowns or abutments. The pontic is affixed by metal or porcelain attachments which are bonded on the back of the two adjacent teeth.
Lastly, the implant-supported bridge where a dental implant is needed before placing the bridge. Among all these, Bridges that are placed on implants are the most durable and long-lasting. They also feel more natural and comfortable.
Pros And Cons of Dental Bridges
Here are the advantages that dental bridges can provide:
- Bridges are cost-efficient and are not as expensive as dental implants. This is one of the major reasons why most people opt for dental bridges that other restorative treatments.
- Bone grafting is not necessary. This is a surgical procedure often required for dental implants.
- If you still have healthy teeth, this is far more recommended than other dentures. Healthy teeth can provide support for the bridges keep them secured.
- It’s easy, fast, and reliable. If bone grafting is not recommended by your dentist, bridges can be placed in between your teeth right away.
The cons of dental bridges include the following:
- A dental bridge with incorrect fitting can cause tooth decay.
- The natural and healthy adjacent teeth need to be adjusted to give way for the bridges.
- The restorative treatment can fail if the supporting teeth are not strong.
- Bridges need to be replaced in the long run.
Book an appointment with your dentist to choose the right type of restorative treatment.
You might also want to consider the following in choosing the perfect option for you.
- Is your tooth broken or totally missing? Remember that crowns are for damaged teeth and bridges are for missing teeth.
- Budget. Crowns are less expensive compared to bridges.
- Recovery period. Crowns need more time to heal than bridges.
