Replacing Old Dental Crowns & Bridges with Dental Implants

 

Patients who have had previous dental work involving a dental bridge or dental crown may find themselves at a point where these repairs may need attention, and might even need to be replaced. In cases like this, it’s important to consider all the available options, as there are advantages and benefits that could be had by choosing to proceed with a dental implant instead.

 

When faced with the problem of lost or broken teeth, it’s important to get the right dental care in order to prevent future issues from developing. Situations such as chipped teeth, cracked teeth, large cavities, and lost teeth must be dealt with promptly to maintain proper mouth function. Failure to get restorative dental treatment for these types of problems can lead to a wide range of other health issues. Fortunately, modern dental procedures make it easier than ever to treat damaged, broken, or missing teeth and help keep their smiles looking great.

 

Just like we put the effort into taking care of our natural teeth to keep them healthy and strong, we also need to care for repaired teeth in the same way. At each of your regular check-ups, your dentist will closely inspect any previous dental work that you’ve had done to verify it’s integrity and ensure the repair is in good condition. However, there are sometimes where a previous dental repair becomes worn or damaged, and may need to be refurbished or replaced.

 

When this occurs, your dentist may choose to simply perform a repeat of the previous procedure. However, sometimes an alternate approach could prove to be a more effective solution. For patients with dental crowns or dental bridges in need of repair or replacement, a dental implant might be recommended. To understand why, it’s important to first clarify how dental bridges and crowns work, and why someone might find themselves in a situation where a crown or bridge would need to be replaced.

What Are Dental Crowns and Dental Bridges?

Dental crowns are used to repair teeth that have become chipped, cracked, or decayed on the upper visible portion of the tooth. Provided the core of the tooth and the roots are still healthy and in good condition, the tooth would not need to be extracted. Instead, the damaged area of the tooth will be removed and the remaining outer portion will be shaped and tapered smooth. The remaining natural tooth will be used as a base to which an artificial tooth crown is affixed. Using an ultra-strong dental adhesive, the artificial crown is attached and bonded, providing the patient with a natural-looking repair that is virtually indistinguishable from their other natural teeth.

 

Dental bridges are used to address the problem of a single lost tooth. On either side of the gap where the missing tooth was, the adjacent teeth will be shaped and tapered in a similar fashion to the way teeth are prepared to accept a dental crown. This is because a dental bridge is mounted much like a dental crown, only instead of being mounted to a single tooth, it is mounted to the adjacent teeth on each side of the gap. The bridge itself is crafted to appear like three individual teeth in a row, with the middle section of the bridge taking up the space where the missing tooth was located.