The problem of lack of teeth for many centuries worried all of humanity. With the development of progress, this problem was solved with the help of restorative dentistry.
Today, a beautiful smile is not only an indicator of health. From the psychological side, it is easier for a person to live in the case when outwardly he has no differences from those around him, which means that the presence of all teeth will make him feel confident in any situation. To achieve this effect, people are willing to pay any money for various dental services.
Implant or crown?
One of the most common problems in dentistry is the lack of a tooth or several for various reasons. A missing tooth can be prosthetized and its chewing function and esthetic appearance restored. For this, the dentist can offer several options for solving the problem: an implant or crown is installed on the tooth. Which is better, the doctor decides for medical reasons, and the patient - according to personal preference. Turning to the clinic, you can choose one of the proposed options depending on the factors that preceded the situation of tooth loss or according to the personal preferences of the patient. In order to decide for yourself which type of treatment to choose, you should understand what is better - a crown or an implant, and what is the difference between them.
What is an implant?
An implant is a tooth root artificially created from metal, surgically mounted on a damaged site, and is designed to fix the prosthesis. It has the appearance of a titanium screw with an external crown. Titanium is one of the few materials with strength and compatibility with body tissues. The crown is indistinguishable from natural teeth and has all their functions. The implant has two parts - the intraosseous, embedded in the jaw bone, and the 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 denture is put 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?
A crown is an outer shell fixed to damaged or adjacent teeth. In fact, this is a fixed prosthesis that protects the visible part of the tooth that has collapsed. The appearance of the crown is made as a hollow cap, worn on the tooth and fixed on the root. A denture technician makes such a prosthesis in a laboratory. In the event that the tooth is completely destroyed and missing, the crown is attached to the dental implant or to adjacent teeth. In general, it is better to place crowns; implants may simply not fit.
Types of Implants
When choosing which crown to put, the implant must also be considered as an option. They are available in several sizes and various shapes. Typically, 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, which replaces the root of the tooth, as well as a crown made of cermet. The crown is attached to a special nozzle (abutment), which rises above the gum.
In dentistry, several types of dental implants are distinguished, which differ in shape, size, method of implantation and other properties. So, the main types of implants:
- Root It is used more often than other types. It looks like a cylinder or a truncated cone with a thread at the base. The implantation process is quick and easy in the case when there is a sufficient amount of bone tissue, otherwise it is necessary to build bone tissue - sinus lift.
- 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.
- Lamellar-root. The combination of two types of implant. It is used infrequently, due to the high complexity of implantation and the large dimensions of the structure.
- Subperiosteal. It is used in cases with thinned bone takany in the patient, in addition, the design is large.
- Mini implant. They are small in size compared to conventional root-type implants. Implanted as stabilizing structures in the presence of removable dentures.
- Implants that stabilize the root system of 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 specific clinical indications in each individual case. Also, the patient can independently choose an option made from the desired material to achieve maximum aesthetic satisfaction from the implant. Cost may affect material choices in some cases.
Which crowns are best placed on the implant?
Today, the market for dental prostheses is quite wide and produces a variety of crowns for implants. Which is better to use, can be decided based on their classification. They differ in the material of manufacture:
- Cermets. This is a crown, the inner part of the frame of which is made of metal, and the outer is lined with ceramics. This design has high strength, aesthetic appeal and durability.
- Ceramics. Dentures, during the production of which only one material is used - ceramics. Metal-free crowns have the best aesthetics. The main type of ceramic used in the manufacture is porcelain or zirconia. Such designs are durable, highly reliable and have a high service life.
- Metal. Crowns for implants are available in cast, stamped and gold. This type of crowns can be installed on molars, because they are hardly noticeable with a smile. The advantage of this type is the fact that under them there is no need to sharpen teeth sharply.
- Combined. They are produced from an alloy of cobalt and chromium when facing the outside with plastic.
Based on these types of materials, you can choose which crown is better to put. The implant plays an important, but secondary role.
Which is better to put - a crown or an implant?
There is such a misconception that dental implants have an undeniable advantage, such as durability, and put them once until the end of life, despite the fact that crowns need to be changed sometimes. But at the same time, it is reliably known that the duration of operation of a ceramic-metal crown is up to 12 years, and a dental implant will serve the same period. And then they both require a replacement. Therefore, choosing which is better, an implant or a crown on a tooth, one should not be guided by this principle.
In fact, this is a rather difficult question - which is better, a crown or an implant. Reviews of patients who installed crowns and people with implants vary. That is, it all depends on the individual characteristics of the problem being resolved and the personal wishes of the patients. So, when choosing a certain type of restorative tooth treatment, attention is primarily paid to the degree of damage. In the event that restoration is possible on half of the tooth, it is filled, and in case of severe damage, cover with a crown.
At the same time, choosing which is better - a crown or an implant, it is necessary to remember that the latter option requires grinding of adjacent teeth. Indeed, when it is installed, implantation takes place in the jawbone, and crowns are attached to adjacent teeth. Therefore, choosing an implant or a crown - which is better, the condition of all teeth should be taken into account.
Contraindications to implantation
Such a seemingly simple procedure as implantation has a number of contraindications. After all, in fact, this is a surgical intervention, which is not recommended for:
- diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs (poor blood coagulation);
- congenital and acquired diseases of the central nervous system;
- tumor formations of various organs and systems;
- decrease in the efficiency of the immune system;
- systemic diseases of the connective and bone tissues;
- tuberculosis in various forms and currents;
- diseases of the oral mucosa;
- abnormalities in the endocrine system (diabetes mellitus);
- increased tone of the masticatory muscles.
Also, intolerance to the components of the implant may be a contraindication.
Complications
When an implant is implanted, some complications may arise both immediately after the operation and after some 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;
- discrepancy of stitches;
- the development of inflammatory processes and infectious infections of the surgical field;
- Incorrect position of the implant in the bone, which complicates the continuation of the operation.
These complications may not occur with the right choice of a doctor.
Going to dentistry for an appointment, the doctor can ask a logical question - whether an implant or a crown is better. In this case, the dentist should not only build on medical indications, but also take into account the personal preferences of the patient. Choosing which crowns are best placed on implants, you can also build on their cost, because inexpensive models cannot be made of quality material.