Are Crowns Dental Implants?
Confused about whether you need a crown or a dental implant? Many patients confuse the two terms and for good reason. They’re closely related to one another but with a few important differences. Dental implants involve the implantation of titanium posts into the empty socket where a tooth has been lost or extracted. These posts act as roots upon which prosthetic teeth, or crowns, are then placed. Crowns may also act as caps for teeth that have been drilled and cleaned. They help to protect the sensitive nerves inside the tooth and to prevent re-infection.
Dental crowns, conversely, refer to just the prosthetic material that mimics the natural tooth. A dental crown may be part of your dental implant procedure, but more often it’s a stand-alone option for repairing damaged teeth.
To place a crown, your dentist will prepare the damaged tooth by drilling into the cavity and removing the infection. They may then file off a portion of the enamel to allow the crown to fit naturally over it.
