Godeok-dong Anterior Prosthetics: Bridge or Single Crown — Which Option Is Better for Me?

Hello.

I am the director of Seoul Bardi Dental Clinic.

When you are considering treatment for the front teeth,

everyone tends to think about this.

Should I connect them into one, or cover them separately?

Of course, it is important to make them look good right away,

but what really matters is what happens later if a problem arises.

How easily and safely can it be fixed?

Today, along with the features of each treatment,

I will explain through a real case

which choice is more beneficial for the patient.

1. What is a bridge?

Godeok-dong Anterior Prosthetics: Bridge or Single Crown — Which Option Is Better for Me?

A bridge is a method that uses the teeth on both sides of a missing tooth as supports

and connects them like a bridge into one unit.

It is used not only when a tooth has been lost,

but also when the alignment is crooked

or the spaces between teeth are wide

in order to correct the overall shape.

A major advantage is that it quickly fills the empty space

without surgery and allows for a more even alignment.

However, the adjacent teeth must be trimmed down to serve as supports,

and if even one part fails, the entire restoration has to be removed,

which creates a maintenance burden.

2. What is a single crown?

Godeok-dong Anterior Prosthetics: Bridge or Single Crown — Which Option Is Better for Me?

A single crown is a treatment that covers each tooth

individually.

Because each tooth moves separately like a natural tooth,

it is easier to manage,

and if only one tooth has a problem later,

only that part needs to be fixed, which is very reasonable.

Of course, it is not possible in every situation.

As shown here, when the tooth alignment is uneven or the spaces are wide, a bridge is often used.

If there are no supporting pillars at all

or the alignment is too twisted, there are limits.

In such cases, the teeth must be connected with a bridge

to match the overall proportion and symmetry.

Case of 6 cracked front teeth,

treated with single crowns

Godeok-dong Anterior Prosthetics: Bridge or Single Crown — Which Option Is Better for Me?

Recently, a patient who visited our clinic had six front teeth (#13~23) that had cracked in the middle

because they could not withstand the chewing force.

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The teeth were worn down and had become shorter,

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and the chewing surfaces were worn enough that the dentin was exposed.

At first, the patient wanted laminate veneers,

but I honestly told them that laminate veneers would likely be difficult.

This is because for people whose teeth have cracked from strong chewing force,

thin laminate veneers are unlikely to hold up

and are likely to break soon.

▼If you are curious about the difference between laminate veneers and crowns,

please refer to the post below~

Treatment plan

The patient in this case works in broadcasting,

so the aesthetic aspect seen in front of the camera was especially important.

We decided to proceed with PFZ (Porcelain Fused to Zirconia) crowns,

which provide both strength and esthetics.

With ordinary zirconia, under strong lighting,

the teeth can look dull and artificial.

On the other hand, PFZ is made by layering a strong zirconia core inside

and a translucent porcelain layer on the outside,

so light passes through softly, making it much more natural.

Fortunately, the patient’s tooth alignment was fairly even.

There was no need to connect the teeth together;

they were in a condition where each one could be made beautifully on its own.

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So, even though it was more work, we carefully made all six teeth separately, one by one.

At first glance, connecting them all together may seem more convenient...

But if you think about unexpected accidents that may happen later,

covering them separately is a little safer.

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Results of choosing single crowns

Godeok-dong Anterior Prosthetics: Bridge or Single Crown — Which Option Is Better for Me?

Four months later, the patient came back to the clinic.

During a meal, one front tooth (#11) had broken.

Unfortunately, only the root remained,

so an implant was needed.

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It was an unfortunate situation,

but fortunately, because the teeth had been covered separately,

the follow-up process was much easier.^^

What if the six teeth had been connected as one?

Because of this one tooth, the other five healthy teeth would also have had to be removed,

turning it into a much larger procedure,

but we were able to handle only the broken part separately

and finish treatment smoothly.

Broken front tooth (#11), treatment plan

Godeok-dong Anterior Prosthetics: Bridge or Single Crown — Which Option Is Better for Me?

The front tooth with only the root remaining was extracted first,

and fortunately, the CT scan showed that the jawbone was in very good condition.

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Thanks to this, it was possible to place the implant immediately that day

without the troublesome bone grafting process.

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After about two months,

we confirmed that the implant and bone had bonded firmly,

and it was time to make the tooth crown to place on top.

What part should be given the most care here?

It is the task of matching the color perfectly with the other anterior prostheses that had been made earlier.

If the newly made tooth looked unusually white and floating, as in the photo above,

then no matter how firmly it was placed,

it would be hard to call it a successful treatment.

We put the most effort into making it blend naturally with the surrounding teeth,

as if it had always been there from the beginning.

Here is the finished result.

At a glance, it is hard to tell which one is the implant, right?

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Not only the color, but also the shape blended very well with the surrounding teeth,

so both the patient and I were very satisfied with this case.^^

A single crown is not possible in every case.

Depending on the patient’s oral condition,

a bridge may be better, or covering the teeth one by one may be more advantageous.

What matters is finding the optimal treatment plan

that is tailored exactly to you.

Please do not worry alone any longer,

and feel free to visit us anytime.

We will think together about the healthiest path for you.

Thank you.

▼Check the clinic location▼

Godeok-dong Anterior Prosthetics: Bridge or Single Crown — Which Option Is Better for Me?

Go to call for reservations
02-481-4278

| This post was written directly by Seoul Bardi Dental Clinic for the purpose of providing medical information in compliance with Article 56, Paragraph 1 of the Medical Service Act. The provided information is recommended for reference only, and for an assessment of symptoms and accurate management methods, please visit a medical institution and receive guidance from medical staff. All procedures/surgeries performed at the dental clinic may involve risks depending on the individual (inflammation, bleeding, swelling, etc.). Please make a decision after sufficient consultation with the medical staff in advance. The treatment cases in this post were photographed with the consent of patients who completed treatment at our clinic, and the before-and-after photos were taken under the same conditions. |