Implant or crown - what is better on the tooth?

The problem of missing teeth for many centuries worried all of humanity. With the progress of progress, this problem has been solved with the help of restorative dentistry.

Today, a beautiful smile is not only an indicator of health. From a psychological point of view, it is easier for a person to live in the case when outwardly he does not differ from others, and hence the presence of all the teeth will make him feel confident in any situation. To achieve this effect, people are willing to pay any money for various dental services.

An implant or a crown?

One of the most common problems in dentistry is the absence of a tooth or several for various reasons. An absent tooth can be prosthetized and restored to its chewing function and aesthetic appearance. To do this, the dentist can offer several options to solve the problem: an implant or a crown is installed on the tooth. Which is better, the doctor decides on medical indications, and the patient - on personal preferences. Applying to the clinic, you can choose one of the proposed options, depending on the factors that preceded the situation of tooth loss or the personal preferences of the patient. In order to decide for yourself, which type of treatment to choose, it should be understood that it is better - a crown or implant, and what is the difference between them.

What is an implant?

Implant is the root of the tooth, artificially created from metal, surgically placed on the damaged site, and is designed to fix the prosthesis. It looks like a titanium screw with an outer crown. Titanium is one of the few materials that have strength and compatibility with the tissues of the body. The crown is indistinguishable from natural teeth and has all their functions. The implant has two parts - an intraosteal implant embedded in the jaw bone, and a periosteal located above the gum. It is available in the form of a cylinder with an external thread and is screwed into the bone, and the prosthesis of the tooth is worn on it. When choosing an implant or a crown - which is better, you should rely on your opinion and do not forget about the doctor's recommendations.

What is a crown?

Crown is the outer shell, fixed on the damaged or adjacent teeth. As a matter of fact it is a fixed prosthesis protecting the visible part of the tooth that has collapsed. The appearance of the crown is made as a hollow cap, which is put on the tooth and fixed on the root. Produces such a dental prosthesis in the laboratory. In the event that the tooth is completely destroyed and is missing, the crown is attached to the dental implant or to a number of standing teeth. In a number of cases, it is better to place crowns, implants may simply not be suitable.

Types of implants

When choosing which crown to put, the implant should also be considered as an option. They are available in several sizes and different shapes. Usually the length can be from 8 to 18 mm, and the average diameter is about 4 mm. According to the standard, the implant consists of a titanium base that replaces the root of the tooth, as well as a crown made of cermets. The crown is attached to a special attachment (abutment), which rises above the gum.

In dentistry, there are several types of dental implants that differ in shape, size, method of implantation and other properties. So, the main types of implants:

1. Root. Used more often than other types. It has the form of a cylinder or a truncated cone with a thread at the base. The implantation process is quick and easy when there is sufficient bone tissue, otherwise it is necessary to build up bone tissue - sinus lifting.
2. Plastic. Such implants are implanted when the patient has too narrow a bone. They occupy a large volume of bone tissue, so they are used very rarely.
3. Plate-root. Combination of two types of implant. It is used infrequently, due to the high complexity of implantation and the large dimensions of the structure.
4. Subperiostal. It is used in cases with a thin bone marrow in the patient, in addition, a large-sized design.
5. Mini-implant. They are small in size, compared to conventional implants of the root type. They are implanted as stabilizing structures in the presence of removable prostheses.
6. Implants, stabilizing the root system of the teeth.

Types of crowns

Depending on the material from which the crowns are made, they are divided into all-metal, cermet and all-ceramic. Each type of crown is used for certain clinical indications in each case. The patient can also choose a variant made from the desired material to achieve the maximum aesthetic satisfaction from the implant. The cost can affect the choice of material in some cases.

Which crowns should I put on the implant?

Today the market of dental prostheses is quite wide and produces a variety of crowns for implants. Which is better to use, you can decide based on their classification. They differ in the material of manufacture:

• Metal ceramics. This crown, the inner part of the frame is made of metal, and the outer is lined with ceramics. Such a structure has high strength, aesthetic appeal and a long service life.
• Ceramics. Prostheses, during the production of which only one material is used - ceramics. Crowns without metal have a better aesthetics. The main type of ceramics used in the manufacture is porcelain or zirconia. Such structures are strong, highly reliable and have a long service life.
• Metal. Crowns for implants are manufactured in one-piece, stamped and gold. This kind of crowns can be placed on the molars, because they are not noticeable with a smile. The advantage of this type is the fact that under them there is no need to greatly undermine the teeth.
• Combined. They are produced from the alloy of cobalt and chromium when facing the outer part with plastic.

Based on these types of materials, you can choose which crown is best to put. Implant in this case plays an important but secondary role.

What is better to put - crown or implant?

There is such a misconception that implants for teeth have an undeniable advantage, such as durability, and put them once before the end of life, while the crowns need to be changed sometimes. But at the same time it is reliably known that the duration of operation of a crown of cermets is up to 12 years, and the same term will be served by a dental implant. And then they both need replacement. Therefore, choosing which is better, an implant or a crown on a tooth, one should not be guided by such a principle.

In fact, this is a rather difficult question - about what is best, a crown or implant. Reviews of patients who have installed crowns and people with implants vary. That is, everything depends on the individual characteristics of the problem being solved and the personal wishes of the patients. So, when choosing a certain type of restorative tooth treatment, first of all attention is drawn to the degree of destruction. In the event that the restoration is possible on the half of the tooth, it is sealed, and in case of severe damage covered with a crown.

At the same time choosing which is better - a crown or implant, it is necessary to remember that the latter option requires a sharpening of adjacent teeth. After all, when it is installed, implantation occurs in the jawbone, and the crowns are attached to adjacent teeth. Therefore, choosing an implant or a crown - which is better, one should take into account the condition of all teeth.

Contraindications for implantation

Such a seemingly simple procedure, like implantation, has a number of contraindications. After all, in fact, this is a surgical intervention, which is not recommended when:

• Diseases of blood and blood-forming organs (poor coagulation of blood);
• Congenital and acquired CNS ailments;
• Tumor formations of various organs and systems;
• Decrease in the efficiency of the immune system;
• Systemic diseases of connective and bone tissues;
• Tuberculosis in various forms and currents;
• Diseases of the oral mucosa;
• Deviations in the endocrine system (diabetes mellitus);
• Increased tonus of chewing muscles.

Also, a contraindication may be intolerance of the implant components.

Complications

When the implant is implanted, some complications can arise both immediately after the operation and after a certain time. It can be:

• Perforation of the maxillary sinus of the nose with insufficient formation of bone tissue;
• Damage to the nerves of the lower jaw;
• Bleeding with hematological abnormalities;
• Pain in the first hours after surgery;
• Divergence of the applied seams;
• Development of inflammatory processes and infectious infections of the operating field;
• Incorrect implant position in the bone, making it difficult to continue the operation.

These complications may not occur with the right choice of doctor.

Going to dentistry at the reception, the doctor can ask a logical question - about whether the implant or crown, which is better. In this case, the dentist must build on not only the medical indications, but also take into account the patient's personal preferences . Choosing which crowns are better to put on implants, you can also start from their value, because inexpensive models can not be made of quality material.