What’s the Difference Between Dentures and Crowns?

Damaged, broken, or missing teeth can impact your confidence in your smile and negatively affect your oral health. Fortunately, crowns and dentures can fix a variety of oral health problems.

In this guide, the dental professionals at Steelecroft Dental explain the difference between crowns and dentures.ere are a few things you should keep in mind:

Purpose of crowns

A dental crown is a cap that goes over your natural tooth. Your provider may recommend a crown due to any of the following circumstances:

• You crack or break a tooth

• You get a large filling

• You get a root canal

• You’re preparing to get a dental implant or bridge

To get a crown, your provider first removes a small amount of enamel from your tooth. Then your provider makes a mold of your tooth and places a temporary crown on your tooth. Your permanent crown will then be made at a lab and should be ready in about two weeks.

Crowns can be made out of several types of material, including porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or metal. At Steelecroft Dental, we often give porcelain crowns, especially for front teeth, which are more visible. Crowns are color-matched to your surrounding teeth, so you can smile without anyone knowing you have a crown.

Purpose of dentures

Dentures are tooth replacement options that are custom-made to fit your mouth. They’re used to replace missing or extremely damaged teeth. You can get full dentures, which replace all of your teeth, or partial dentures, which replace only some of your teeth. 

You may need dentures as a result of illness, injury, or tooth decay. Dentures are removable, so you will be able to clean them thoroughly. And like crowns, dentures are color-matched to your surrounding teeth. 

Dentures can be made out of several materials, including acrylic, metal, or a combination of both. Many partial sets of dentures are metal-based, which are most commonly used on back teeth. Because these types of dentures have metal, they provide an excellent chewing surface.

Dentures can require an adjustment period. Because they’re removable, it may take a little time to get used to them. But, you should quickly be able to eat and talk with ease.

You don’t need to go on with damaged or missing teeth. To see if dentures or crowns can help you, book an appointment online or over the phone with Steelecroft Dental today.