Difference between crown and implant

In modern dental clinics, services for the installation of crowns and implants are in demand. What are they?

What is a crown?

A dental crown is a dental microprosthesis that mimics the upper part of a tooth. It is established, as a rule:

  • in order to eliminate defects that cannot be corrected by means of a seal or inlay;
  • to correct the shape, position, color of teeth.

Generally, dentists recommend placing crowns if:

  • the tooth is damaged by more than 60%;
  • it is necessary to supplement the prosthetics performed with the use of bridges;
  • periodontal treatment is carried out by means of splinting;
  • Crown placement is required for aesthetic reasons.

There are 2 stages of making crowns:

  • clinical;
  • laboratory.

At the first stage, the doctor examines the patient's teeth, takes impressions for making models of crowns. Pre-treatment of teeth is also carried out using the method that is optimal for installing a specific type of crown. At the second stage - in the laboratory - the impression is examined and the crown is made on its basis.

Crown

The finished prosthetic element is then handed over to the dentist and placed on the patient's tooth. In this case, the crown can be preliminarily examined for compliance with the wishes of the patient and the recommendations of the dentist in terms of color and shape.

As a rule, after the doctor has selected the optimal parameters of the crown, it returns to the laboratory for revision, as well as for glazing, and only after that is placed on the patient's tooth.

What is an implant?

A dental implant is a prosthetic device used to replace the root of a real tooth. It is thus implanted by the dentist into the patient's jawbone.

Implants are divided into collapsible and non-collapsible. The first denture elements are presented:

  • by the actual implant;
  • with an abutment.

This implant is usually installed in 2 stages. First, it is implanted into the jaw tissue by immersion under the mucous membrane. After some time - after about 4-6 months - an abutment is placed on the implant.

Implant

A non-dismountable implant implies the installation of an appropriate prosthetic element to a patient within one stage. In this case, the part of the implant that replaces the root, and the abutment, as a rule, are made of the same type of material. This design can then be complemented with a crown, bridge or other prosthetic element.

Comparison

The main difference between a crown and an implant is that the first element of prosthetics replaces the upper part of the tooth, the second - the root. As a rule, implantation of an implant involves the further installation of a crown or its analogue, for example, a bridge, on the patient's tooth. However, the crown can also be placed on a real tooth root.

Having determined what is the difference between a crown and an implant, we will reflect the conclusions in the table.

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Crown Implant
What do they have in common?
The crown can be placed on the implant, and the implant, as a rule, involves the further installation of the crown on the patient's tooth
What is the difference between them?
Replaces the upper part of the toothReplaces the root of the tooth
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