Dental Bridge or Crown—Which is the Better Single-Tooth Replacement?

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pros and consWhen it comes to replacing your lost tooth, you have a few options, although ignoring it should never be one of them. Dental bridges have long served to close the gaps left by missing teeth and restore a smile’s confidence and ability. Yet, these days, dental implant-supported crowns are fast becoming the preferred tooth replacement choice. To help you decide, or at least learn a little more about your options, your Park Ridge implant dentists, Dr. Maria and Dr. Thanasi Loukas, explore the pros and cons of dental bridges and dental implant-supported crowns, including their long-term effects on your smile’s integrity.

Dental Bridge

A dental bridge consists of your custom-designed replacement tooth situated between two dental crowns, which are bonded to the teeth adjacent to the gap (called abutment teeth).

Pros

A dental bridge effectively closes the ranks of your smile, which prevents remaining teeth from shifting to take up the slack of their lost companion. Dental bridges can also be crafted to replace several lost teeth in a row.

Cons

To bond a dental bridge’s supportive dental crowns, your abutment teeth must be filed down to accommodate the crowns, which can weaken your healthy tooth structure. Also, conventional dental bridges don’t replace the roots of your lost teeth, which help sustain the nutrient supply to your jawbone.

Dental Implant Crown

Pros

A dental implant-supported crown consists of a prosthetic tooth root (dental implant) surgically inserted into your jawbone, with the crown attached to it above the gum line. By mimicking your natural tooth’s construction, a dental implant crown offers the most lifelike tooth replacement in both appearance and function. The implant also restores biting stimulation to help preserve your jawbone’s integrity.

Cons

A single crown on a single dental implant can only replace one lost tooth. If you’ve lost more, then you may require more dental implants and a larger dental prosthetic. Also, if your jawbone has lost a significant amount of its structure, you may not be eligible for a dental implant unless you first receive a jawbone graft.

Expert Smile Restorations with Your Park Ridge Implant Dentists

Every smile is different, and choosing the ideal tooth replacement depends on a number of factors specific to your oral health. To learn more about dental bridges and dental implant crowns, seek the expertise of your Park Ridge implant dentists today. You can schedule an appointment by calling Loukas General Dentistry at (847) 696-1919. Located in the 60068 area, we proudly serve patients from Park Ridge and the surrounding Chicago communities.