Should I Get a Dental Crown or a Dental Bridge?

If you are experiencing some dental health issues, whether it's cavities or missing teeth, the first thing you need to do is schedule an appointment with your dentist. Your dentist will examine your teeth and may require a few additional tests to determine the best course of treatment for your specific problems. 

Often, people are faced with making a significant decision: should they get dental crowns or dental bridges. 

Let’s explore what each means and what it treats to understand which one serves you best depending on what your dental problem is.

What Are Dental Crowns?

Dental crowns are used to cover and restore damaged teeth that do not need extraction. They are used to enhance the appearance of a tooth by reshaping and strengthening it. 

Dental crowns are tiny caps your dentist will place over your tooth, restoring its natural look and function. They are used as:

• Support for a tooth that has a large filling
• Bridge attachment 
• Protection for a weak tooth 
• Covered a misshaped or discolored tooth 
•  over a dental implant

What Are Dental Bridges?

Dental bridges serve as replacements for missing teeth and are anchored to existing teeth. As opposed to dental crowns that work on existing teeth, dental bridges are used to replace any missing teeth. They are made out of one or several artificial teeth attached to adjacent existing teeth.

Dental bridges are used in cases where the natural tooth is missing. If not treated, missing teeth can lead to other dental problems where teeth can start to misalign, impairing speech and affecting the aspect of your smile. 

As you can see, these two dental treatments options cover different issues:

• Dental crowns are used on existing teeth or as artificial teeth for implants.
• Dental bridges are used to cover a gap between teeth caused by the loss of one or several teeth. 

Which Option Is Best for You?

First and foremost, it is important to talk to your Wilmington dentist and determine the actual state of your oral health. If you are missing teeth, dental bridges are the option suited for you, but if you want to improve the aspect of your teeth you can go ahead with crowns. 

If any other dental problems are hiding under the surface, the dentist will be able to evaluate and recommend what best fits your needs.

Schedule Your Appointment with Us

At Thrive Family Dental, we have an extensive list of services we provide to our patients. We can also offer evaluations and treatments for a wide range of dental conditions.