When it’s time to unlock your smile’s potential, you need to start with the health of your teeth. But with a huge range of options, how do you know what’s right for you? We spoke to expert cosmetic dentists to break down the differences between some of the most common options for dental work: implants, crowns and bridges.
According to CDC, tooth decay and tooth loss are both common issues for Americans. By age 50, Americans have lost an average of 8 adult teeth, not including wisdom teeth. By age 70, a quarter of US adults will have lost all of their teeth.
When you’re dealing with tooth decay or tooth loss, acting quickly will help preserve your remaining teeth and your overall oral health.
Crowning Glory: Dental Crowns
When you get dental work, your dentist will always try to preserve your teeth, rather than remove them. Dental crowns are a key factor in this process as they can be attached to a problem tooth to stop the decay process.
Huntsville, AL cosmetic dentist Sonya L. Wintzell, DMD, explains that wearing a crown helps protect the integrity of your tooth, rather than allowing decay to continue. “A crown is a wonderful option for repairing or replacing missing or weak tooth structure,” says Dr. Wintzell. “It allows the patient to keep a tooth for a very long time, as opposed to letting the tooth slowly break down to the point where it needs to be removed.”
Crowns can stop decay where it is, allowing the remaining tooth to be preserved.
New York cosmetic dentist Husam Almunajed, DDS explains that crowns work best when they preserve a mostly decayed tooth. “For crowns, they are designed to be a full coverage restoration to protect the tooth,” says Dr. Almunajed. “A crown is an excellent dental restoration if more than 65 percent of the tooth structure is damaged, missing or broken. “
When only a little bit of your tooth is at risk, you will likely be recommended a filling.
“Minor damage can usually be repaired with a cosmetic filling,” explains Dr. Wintzell. “But if adequate tooth structure is compromised, a crown may be the best option.”
According to Houston, TX cosmetic dentist Guy M. Lewis, DDS, crowns can also be an option for repairing cracked teeth and even for purely cosmetic improvements. “Crowns can strengthen weak or damaged teeth, including repairing cracked teeth and repairing broken teeth,” explains Dr. Lewis. “You can also have a crown for discolored teeth, a general cosmetic improvement, or even reshape teeth with crowns.”
Many patients choose porcelain crowns for their dental work because they more closely mimic the appearance of teeth, although metal options are still available. “We now have beautiful materials that allow the lab to shape the crown to mimic nature and the tooth being repaired in a way that only your dentist knows is a crown,” explains Dr. Winztell.
Standing Strong: Dental Implants
When you are missing one or more teeth, a dental implant acts as a new, rooted tooth. “Implants are actually synthetic tooth roots that are surgically placed into your bone,” explains Dr. Almunajed. Because they closely mimic not only the appearance, but also the functionality of a real tooth, they are considered the pinnacle of dental restoration.
“An implant is the ultimate restoration when a tooth is missing,” explains Dr. Wintzell. “The implant is surgically placed in the jawbone and mimics the root of the missing tooth. A crown is then placed over the implant and it looks and functions just like the original tooth.”
Implants can be used as a base for a crown or even a full set of dentures.
“Dental implants are artificial structures, usually made of titanium, that replace tooth roots and support crowns, bridges or dentures,” says Dr. Lewis. “Their purpose is to act as a base for artificial teeth that look, feel and function like natural teeth, thereby restoring the patient’s ability to speak, eat and chew properly.”
With proper care, they can also last a long time. “Implants are long-lasting and also help support the bone around the implant area,” explains Dr. Wintzell. “Whether a tooth is missing or a full set of teeth, implants can help a patient feel and look like their old self again with confidence in their smile and eating abilities.”
Mind the Gap: The Dental Bridge
Consisting of crowns that fit over existing teeth and artificial teeth to ‘bridge the gap’, a dental bridge corrects missing teeth without implanting anything into your bone. This approach to dental health allows patients who would not otherwise be candidates for a dental implant to receive a long-term restoration.
“Bridges can be an excellent option when there are esthetic issues for the bone and/or gums or impacted teeth can interfere with implants,” explains Dr. Almunajed.
According to Dr. Wintzell, bridges have been a common choice for dental work for a long time. “Although implants are the ultimate restoration when a tooth is missing, a bridge can be another successful option for replacing a tooth,” explains Dr. Wintzell. “Bridges have been used successfully in dentistry before implants became prevalent.”
Bridges are designed to restore both the aesthetic appearance of the teeth and their long-term functionality.
“Designed to bridge the gap between missing teeth, this innovative solution restores not only your confidence, but also your ability to chew and speak naturally,” says Dr. Lewis. “Made with precision and durability, our dental bridges are custom made to blend seamlessly with your natural teeth.”
Sometimes, patients prefer this option simply because of the lack of surgery in their dental work. “Implants that are more surgical in nature tend to take longer to achieve the final result,” explains Dr. Wintzell. “And just the fact that there’s surgery can make a patient avoid that option.”
The biggest reason a dentist might prefer a bridge over an implant has to do with your jawbone.
“One reason a dentist may recommend a dental bridge is if the patient has insufficient bone density in the jaw to support a dental implant,” explains Dr. Lewis. “Another reason could be if the patient has several missing teeth or a gap between teeth that are not next to each other, as bridges can cover more extensive gaps compared to implants.”
