Crowns vs. Implants: Two Great Options for Securing Dental Bridges By Dr. David Wyse on April 20, 2015

For people who are missing between one and three of their natural teeth on a single arch, dental bridges offer a versatile, long-term method of replacement. Dental bridges can be held in place either by crowns attached to the natural teeth on either side of a gap or by dental implants, which provide the most stable and durable replacement for missing teeth currently available. Both treatments offer significant oral health and aesthetic benefits, and patients of Chrisman & Wyse Cosmetic & General Dentistry can expect no less than the best regardless of which treatment they choose.

If you are considering replacing your missing teeth with a dental bridge, you may be weighing your restoration options in your mind right now. Our experienced dental team can help you make the decision that is right for you regarding the topic of crown vs. implant-supported dental bridges. At our Bloomington dental practice, our esteemed dentists, Jay W. Chrisman D.D.S. and David D. Wyse D.D.S., happily take the time to provide patients with all the information they need to make confident, educated decisions regarding their dental care, addressing all of their questions and concerns in plain, straightforward language. They would welcome the opportunity to meet with you and help you decide the best way to restore health, beauty, and function to your mouth.

About Crown-supported Dental Bridges

Traditional fixed dental bridges comprise one to three custom-crafted replacement teeth with porcelain crowns on either side. These crowns are secured to the natural teeth adjacent to the gap left by the missing teeth. As a result, the artificial teeth literally bridge the gap, restoring strength to the bite and making the smile whole once again.

The benefits of crown-supported bridges include:

They prevent the natural teeth from drifting out of place toward the gap, thereby weakening the bite.
Because they are created from the finest-quality materials to exacting specifications, they blend seamlessly into the smile and last for many years with proper care.
The crowns and replacement teeth are custom-crafted to match surrounding teeth in terms of size, shape, color, and even texture.

The only notable disadvantage of crown-supported bridges is that they rely on natural teeth for support. As a result, the natural teeth must be filed down prior to the placement of the crowns.

Implant-supported Dental Bridges

Unlike crown-supported bridges, implant-supported bridges do not rely on natural teeth for support. Rather, the dental bridge is secured to tiny titanium posts that are surgically placed into the jawbone. Because the human body does not recognize titanium as a foreign substance, the implant posts integrate with the bone, where they act as replacement tooth roots. Once the bone has healed around the implants, the bridge can be attached. It will not slip or shift out of place. In fact, it will be virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth.

Although implant-supported dental bridges are admittedly more expensive than their crown-supported counterparts, there are few elective treatments in all of medicine that deliver better value for the dollar. The implants can last for 40 years or longer and restore the ability to eat, speak, and smile with ease and confidence.