Dental Implants vs Porcelain Crowns: Which Is Better? A Comparative Analysis of the Differences

Shao Ge the veteran, here to chat about oral health issues~After a dentist pulls out a broken tooth root, they will always ask whether you plan to get a porcelain crown or a dental implant. You may not know how to choose, but your first reaction is always to ask how much each costs, and generally you want the one that works well and is not too expensive. When facing missing teeth, are you still torn between choosing a porcelain crown or a dental implant?

Actually, it is not difficult. It depends on how many teeth you have lost.For a single tooth, a porcelain crown bridge has no tooth root, so it can only grind down the teeth on both sides as sacrifices. Generally, a dental implant is still recommended. It contains a titanium artificial tooth root and looks a bit like a screw, but it is non-toxic and tightly combines with the alveolar bone. However, implant technology cannot be compared with porcelain crowns; the surgical difficulty levels differ greatly. But for the loss of several teeth, if the cost is relatively high, you can consider making a porcelain crown bridge.

1. Differences in treatment time

The treatment time for porcelain crowns is much shorter than for dental implants. It includes making and trying on the crown and choosing a suitable color. The porcelain crown restoration can be completed in about 2 to 3 weeks from start to finish. But dental implants are different. After placing the implant, you still have to wait 1 to 3 months for the alveolar bone to integrate before making the porcelain crown and fitting it on. The treatment time takes about 3 to 6 months.

2. Differences in function

In terms of chewing food alone, porcelain crowns rely heavily on the teeth on both sides to complete chewing, while dental implants with artificial tooth roots are more effortless because they replace the function of real teeth and generally last relatively longer. Also, neither can solve the problem once and for all. Porcelain crowns have to be replaced about every 10 years; gaps may appear at the edges, chewing function may be affected so you cannot bite well, and the original tooth inside the crown may even become infected.

Generally, porcelain crowns are used more often for tooth restoration, that is, wearing a porcelain crown after root canal treatment. Of course, they can also be used for dentures, but the teeth have to be ground down. In short, for a single missing tooth you can choose a dental implant, while for multiple missing teeth you have to consider an implant plus a porcelain crown bridge. Both have advantages and disadvantages, depending on your needs.If you have any questions about these two, welcome to follow [Shao Ge Squeezes Toothpaste]. Shao Ge will answer them for you in the comment section, and there are occasional surprises too~