The Basics on Dental Implants, Bridges & Crowns

If you have dental issues then you may be able to get help from a dental implant, bridge or crown. It's a good idea for you to learn what each of these are and educate yourself on what they do so you can be better informed when it comes to having your dental work done. This article will go over some of the facts about these three teeth repair and replacement options, so you have a good understanding of each one.

Dental implants can replace missing teeth

A dental implant is a replacement option that looks, feels and functions like a natural tooth in just about every way. One of the things that makes this option so good is the fact that it is fused right to your jawbone so they are very strong. Not everyone is a good candidate for implants since your bone density must be up to par and you will need to heal quickly from the process. However, for those who are proven fit, they are a fantastic choice.

Dental bridges can replace missing teeth and repair damaged ones

A dental bridge will be designed to include crowns that fit over and repair teeth that are damaged and a bridge that has a replacement tooth. Dental bridges are great because they can be small and used to replace and repair a couple teeth or they can be longer and designed to take care of quite a few teeth. The thing that you need to know about a dental bridge is that you do need to have teeth to put the crowns on that are still strong enough to be good anchoring teeth for the bridge. Teeth that are too weak will make for a weak bridge.

Crowns can be used to repair chipped, broken or otherwise damaged teeth

A crown can't replace a missing tooth because it needs to go over an actual tooth. But, a crown can be a great choice for tooth repair. Crowns are designed with a metallic base and most have porcelain material over them that makes them look like real teeth.

However, you can choose to stick with the metallic crown of silver or gold coloring if this is something you would like to do. Crowns can be used to repair teeth that are damaged, but it's important to understand that teeth with too much damage will probably need to be pulled because they won't be stable and strong enough for a crown.

To learn more about your options, contact a denturist, dentist, or emergency dentist. 

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