Have you ever wondered which is better for your condition, a dental bridge or crown? You may not be sure. One may appear more practical, but the other may be more aesthetically pleasing. Which do you choose? How can you know if you’re making the right decision when faced with such a choice?
Choosing between a dental bridge and a dental crown isn’t easy. Read on to get the scoop on these treatments from Allure Dental, including when you should go with one over the other.
Which Is Best?
They both replace a missing tooth or teeth. Dental crowns and bridges, prosthetic items, can restore your smile if you’ve lost one or more teeth. Dentists recommend using a crown for repairing a broken or cracked tooth and a bridge when replacing one or more missing teeth.
Dental Crown
It’s a tooth-shaped covering that completely encases the entire tooth. It helps prevent the tooth from becoming cracked or chipped at the surface. In addition to protecting the tooth, it can improve its appearance by returning its original shape and color.
Dental crowns are of porcelain or metal alloys (such as gold or silver) and are bonded to the natural tooth using adhesives or cement.
Dental crowns come in different materials, so they can be used to treat various oral health issues. For example:
- Tooth decay.
- Damage to a tooth due to an accident or injury.
- A large filling over a cavity (which can weaken the tooth).
- Tooth discoloration.
- Tooth chipping.
Dental Bridge
It’s a fixed prosthesis that replaces missing teeth. It is made of two crowns (the part of the tooth that sits on top of the gum) and two or more artificial teeth called pontics, cemented with synthetic resin cement. The pontics fill your empty spaces, while the crowns help support them.
Dental bridges replace missing teeth that cannot be replaced with dental implants because of their location or the shape or size of their roots. It is because there is insufficient bone to hold an implant securely. Dental bridges also restore chewing ability and speech, improve facial symmetry, and decrease pain caused by chewing or talking.
The Procedure of Making Crowns and Bridges
Before they are made, the tooth that will serve as an anchor must be reduced and prepared. After the teeth get cleaned and polished, the dentist will take an impression to determine their exact size. The dentist will consider the natural tooth color when placing a crown or bridge.
The dentist will next take impressions of your teeth and send them to a dental laboratory where your crown or bridge is fabricated. A temporary bridge and crown are fabricated and cemented over the damaged tooth to prevent the adjacent teeth from shifting and restore the smile’s aesthetics. The bridge and crown are made, and once finished, they are cemented onto the tooth by the dentist.
How Long Do They Last?
It depends on several factors, including the materials used to make the crown or bridge, how well you care for it, and your oral health habits. Generally, most dental restorations should last anywhere from 10 to 15 years. Finding a dentist who uses materials that can withstand daily wear and tear from biting, chewing, and grinding teeth together is essential.
You should care for dental bridges and crowns by:
- Flossing twice daily.
- Brushing twice daily using floride toothpaste with a toothbrush with soft bristles clean below the gum line where plaque builds up over time.
- Visit your dentist every six months for a check-up and to detect issues early.
- Avoid sticky foods; they can stick to the crown.
- Avoid eating hard foods like peanuts.
Cost of Dental Bridges and Crowns
The cost of dental bridges will vary from patient to patient. Many factors determine the price, including the materials used and the number of teeth replaced. If you have dental insurance, you may find that it covers 50% of the cost. Dental bridges generally cost between $500 and $1,500, depending on where you live and if you don’t have a dental plan.
Each dental crown can cost anywhere from $500 to $2,500, with the final price depending on the quality of the crown’s materials, the dentist’s expertise, and the patient’s proximity to a major metropolitan area.
The key is to choose the correct method based on your teeth and dental condition. Regardless of what you decide, your dentist will be able to provide you with advice based on clinical experience and advanced technology.
