Crown vs. Bridge vs. Implant, Which Tooth Restoration Is Right for You?

Replacing or restoring a damaged or missing tooth is extremely important for your health and appearance. So, what is your best option for replacing missing teeth in Bellbrook, OH? Let’s compare. How to choose between a crown, a bridge, and an implant.

Dental Crowns for Repairing Damaged Teeth

A dental crown is a custom-made cap that is placed over a damaged tooth (or a root-canaled tooth). They are best suited for repairing cracked, weakened, or heavily filled teeth. Crowns help preserve your natural teeth. The procedure is quick. And crowns actually look like natural teeth. The only prerequisite for getting a crown is having a healthy tooth structure underneath to place it.

Dental Bridges Fill the Gaps Left by Missing Teeth

A bridge is a fixed dental prosthetic that is designed to fill the gap left by a missing tooth. It uses your neighbouring teeth for support. Bridges are best used to replace one or two missing teeth in a row. They are a non-surgical procedure. They are quicker than implants. And they are cosmetically appealing. However, they do require the adjacent teeth to be ground down a bit. Additionally, they don’t last as long as dental implants.

Dental Implants as a Long-Term Tooth Replacement Option

Dental implants use a titanium post surgically implanted into your jawbone to support a crown (instead of your tooth). They are best for replacing a missing tooth and/or anchoring your dentures in place. Implants look, feel, and function like your natural teeth. And they will help preserve your jawbone. However, they are more expensive upfront than other tooth replacement options.

How to Choose the Right Option for You?

The best tooth replacement option for your situation will depend on the condition of your tooth, your budget, and your overall oral health.  A dentist in Bellbrook, OH, will go over everything with you. Then you can decide which tooth replacement option is right for you.

Are You Looking for the Best Tooth Replacement Option in Bellbrook, OH?

Please Contact Bellbrook Family Dentistry today to schedule a consultation and exam. We will review the best tooth replacement solutions based on your specific needs. Ready to restore your smile? Go ahead and reach out now.

Should I Get a Bridge or An Implant?

Replacing a missing tooth is an important thing you can do to take care of your teeth. Missing teeth can cause various problems, including difficulty chewing, difficulty talking, and feelings of self-consciousness about your appearance.

A missing tooth can even make your remaining teeth misaligned, as teeth will often shift when one tooth goes missing. When this happens, you may experience problems with your jaw, like pain while eating and talking.

Two Potential Options

Implants and bridges are two options for replacing a single missing tooth. Choosing between the two types of prosthetic teeth can be tough, especially because the process for installing dentures and bridges is very different.

Knowing the difference between these two types of prosthetic teeth, including installation, can help you decide if one type of prosthetic tooth is better for you than the other. Your dentist in Bellbrook, OH, can help with this.

What’s a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is a prosthetic tooth that’s held in place by two crowns placed on either side of the tooth. The crowns are attached to the teeth that fit on either side of the gap in your mouth. To install the dental bridge, the dentist must shave down the enamel on the teeth to be fitted with the crowns.

What’s a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is a post that’s drilled into the jaw bone and then fitted with a crown that looks like a natural tooth. Dental implants require you to have a healthy jaw bone for the dental implant to hold its place. If you don’t have a healthy jaw bone, your dentist may need to do a bone grafting procedure before fitting you with the implant.

Is One Better than the Other?

Regardless of the type of prosthetic tooth that you install, when the procedure is over, you’ll have a tooth that looks natural and allows you to eat and talk normally again. If you’re unsure which one is right for you, your dentist at Bellbrook Family Dentistry can help you decide.

Your dentist will evaluate your dental health, including your jaw and the teeth on either side of the gap in your mouth. This will help your dentist make a recommendation. Call us today to learn more about dental bridges and dental implants in Bellbrook, OH.