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Early Childhood Caries: Parents Must Know This Dental Problem

Early Childhood Caries
Early Childhood Caries: Parents Must Know This Dental Problem

Dental problems, mainly cavities and tooth decay, are visible after a certain age, most probably after the fifties. However, people who don’t take care of their teeth and eat food items harmful to their teeth might have dental problems in their mid-thirties or forties.   

On the other hand, people who are more health-conscious and take care of their teeth with proper oral hygiene can enjoy healthy teeth even in their fifties and sixties. However, children between the ages of 5 and 11 are also highly vulnerable towards various dental problems.    

Early childhood caries (ECC) is one of the dental problems among children under age 6. In this article, we are going to discuss aboutearly childhood caries, its causes, stages of ECC, management of ECC and the right treatment for early childhood caries.  

What is Early Childhood Caries?

Early childhood caries or ECC is the decay of teeth among children under age six. However, it is also referred to as “baby bottle tooth decay” defined as the presence of one or more decayed or missing tooth surfaces in the primary tooth, which can further spread to molars and multiple surfaces.  

ECC can cause pain, discomfort or infections, and if untreated, can permanently damage the teeth. It is not a single cavity but a pattern of dental problems driven by exposure to sugars, poor oral hygiene, and bacteria.

Signs and Symptoms of Early Childhood Caries

The initial signs and symptoms of early childhood caries are white chalky lines or spots near the gum line on upper front teeth.Furtherwith progression, these dull, chalky white spots turn into brown or black cavities, causing tooth sensitivity and making it difficult or painful while chewing and speaking.  

ECC can also be spotted if there are any visible holes or pits in the teeth, or swelling or drainage around a tooth. This causes not only severe pain and discomfort but also leads to poor sleep among the children.  

Stages of Early Childhood Caries

The stages of ECC depend on the age of the children. However, children 71 months or younger typically progress through four main stages. Each stage shows a certain level of ECC condition with changed appearance and different symptoms. Let’s find out in detail what the 4 stages of dental caries indicate.  

Stage 1: White Spot Stage

This is the stage of initial demineralisation in which the appearance of teeth becomes faint, chalky white or opaque bands along the gum line that usually happens on the upper front teeth. The main symptoms of this stage are that the enamel feels rough but is not yet broken, and there is no feeling of pain.  However, at this stage, ECC can be fully controlled through fluoride treatments, with oral hygiene and healthy diets.

Stage 2: Decaying of Enamel

The appearance of teeth changes, the white spot becomes softer and starts breaking down with the formation of small and rough cavities. The symptoms of this stage are a discolouration level shifted to yellow or light brown due to the breakdown of enamel. And the child will start feeling the mild temperature sensitivity in the teeth.

Stage 3: Dentin Decay

This is the stage called damaged lesion in which cavities reach deeper and spread wider, entering into the softer layer of the teeth, or you can say beneath the enamel. The symptoms of this stage of ECC are cavities that usually turn dark brown or black, and your child will start to realise significant pain and discomfort while chewing food. And the sensitivity level becomes more sensitive towards mild hot or cold food and beverages.

Stage 4: Pulp Damage and Advanced Deterioration

This is the advanced deterioration stage in which the tooth decay becomes severe enough to reach the tooth’s nerve (pulp).  In various serious conditions, the crowns of the teeth are completely damaged, leaving only small root stumps. In this stage, your child can feel severe pain and swelling in the gums with the possibility of abscesses, making sleeping and eating difficult in daily life. 

Early Childhood Caries

What Causes Early Childhood Caries?

There are various factors causing the ECC, such as poor oral hygiene, frequent exposure to sugars and cavity-causing bacteria. This is usually linked to prolonged bottle-feeding, as the child’s sugar, added milk drinking habit attracts bacteria that eat such sugar and produce the acid that causes early childhood caries.  

Types of Early Childhood Caries

The ECC affects children 71 months or younger. However, based on severity and pattern, ranging from localised enamel defects to widespread destruction of almost all primary teeth, ECC is classified into three clinical types.   

Type 1: This is a mild, or you can say moderate, type of ECC in which white spots mainly affect the upper front teeth or back teeth. This can be caused by a combination of semisolid or solid cariogenic foods and a lack of proper oral hygiene.

Type 2: This is a moderate to severe type of ECC that affects the front surfaces of the upper incisors and possibly the molar teeth. However, the lower teeth can remain unaffected, and it can be caused by inappropriate bottle feeding, at-will breastfeeding or both, attracting the harmful bacteria at frequent levels.

Type 3: This is the severe type of ECC, aggressively spreads and affects most of the teeth, including lower, upper, front and back teeth that might not be affected in early stages. This is mainly caused by a heavy combination of high-sugar diets, poor oral hygiene, and prolonged exposure to fermentable carbohydrates.   

What is a Risk Factor for Developing Early Childhood Caries?

ECC is mainly caused by prolonged exposure to sugars and a lack of proper dental hygiene. However, the strongest risk factors include frequent consumption of sugary foods or drinks. Not using the fluoride toothpaste also causes high levels of decay-causing bacteria in the mouth. The development of ECC is mainly associated with daily lifestyle, genetics, and socioeconomic factors. Let’s find out the top risk factors.

Dietary & Feeding Habits: The frequent use of nighttime bottles to feed the child with a bottle containing milk, formula, or sugar-added juices. Apart from that, the child is eating sticky or sweet snacks like candies or gummies. And lastly, on-demand breastfeeding or bottle-feeding without proper teeth cleaning.

Oral Hygiene & Dental Care: If you don’t take care of your child’s teeth with proper dental care and oral hygiene, ECC can develop easily. Not brushing the child’s teeth at least twice a day for at least two minutes, or not using fluoride-based toothpaste for brushing.  

Biological & Genetic Factors: Another risk factor for developing ECC can be due to the child being born with developmental defects of the tooth enamel. Apart from that, bacterial transmission is another major risk that can happen to the child from caregivers or siblings through shared utensils or kissing.

Socioeconomic & Environmental Factors: The people with low income or lower caregiver education levels are not able to afford the proper dental care, and are also at high risk of ECC. And the siblings of those who have a history of tooth decay are also more likely to be affected by ECC. 

How to Prevent Early Childhood Caries?

Prevention is better than cure, yes, preventing the ECC will not only help to control such dental problems in your children but also help them to avoid major dental problems in their lives. There are a few preventive measures you can follow to keep your child safe from ECC or any other dental problem.

Start Early: Whenever the first tooth erupts, start cleaning the tooth using the soft infant toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to clean the tooth and clean the gums with soft cloths.

Brushing Habits: The right brushing technique is very important to avoid ECC. You need to supervise your child or help them to properly clean their tooth and make sure they brush twice and do it for at least two minutes.

Avoid Bedtime Bottling: Never put the milk bottle in your kid’s mouth at bedtime or when going to sleep. You should also avoid sugar-containing juices, formula drinks or sweetened liquids at bedtime. Overnight, bacteria attack your kids’ teeth, causing tooth decay and ECC.  

Using the Open Cups: Afterattaining the age of one, you should encourage your child to drink milk with open cups that reduce the exposure of teeth to sugar and other such drinks.    

Limit the Sugar Intake: You should avoid using sugar in milk or any other such drinks to reduce the sugar intake and limit the exposure to the tooth that attracts bacteria, causing tooth decay or ECC.

Avoid Bacterial Transfer:  You should also avoid sharing the feeding utensils or toothbrushes with your child. Also, avoid licking pacifiers or direct kissing on the mouth of your kids as it increases the risk of transmitting the cavity-causing bacteria from adult to child’s mouth.

Fluoride Treatments: Make sure your child is getting enough fluoride to strengthen tooth enamel, but always consult the best dentist in Greater Noida or near your city to get professional fluoride treatments.   

Timely Visit to Dentist: Last but not least, you should keep visiting the best pediatric dentist in Greater Noida or a kids dentist near your city to get regular check-ups of children’s teeth.  

Treatment for Early Childhood Caries 

The treatment for early childhood caries depends on the tooth condition and stage of ECC. The Preventive & Non-Invasive Treatments are suitable for early stages, while arresting treatments and restorative treatments are suitable for the stage of active decay and advanced cavities, respectively. And for the last stage or severe ECC conditions, the advanced management treatment is recommended to cure this child’s dental problem. 

Fluoride Treatments: In this treatment procedure, a highly effective, professional application that remineralises weakened enamel and protects from further damage. For toddlers, who struggle with traditional dental treatments, topical liquid is used to arrest active cavities quickly without drilling. 

Restorative Care: In the atraumatic restorative and interim therapeutic restorations technique, decayed tooth tissue is removed softly using the hand instruments. And later filling is done with fluoride-releasing Glass Ionomer Cement to prevent the teeth from any further caries.   

Pulp Therapy: When decay in the tooth reaches to the nerve, but the tooth is still salvageable, pulpotomy, as pulp therapy, can be used to save such teeth from ECC. 

Fillings & Crowns: For other serious conditions, dental tooth fillings and crowns are used to fill the composite resin or glass Ionomer. And if the situation is critical or pre-formed, pediatric crowns are placed to restore full function and prevent the tooth from breaking or cracking.

Tooth Extraction: This is thelast stage when no dental treatment procedure is suitable to save the teeth damaged due to ECC. The tooth is extracted carefully while maintaining enough space for the growth of the future adult tooth in your child.   

Conclusion

Early childhood caries is a dental problem among children under the age of six, also known as baby bottle tooth decay, causing cavities and the decay of teeth. Starts from initial symptoms of white chalky lines or spots near the gum line, which can progress to a severe stage, damaging the tooth enamel and dentin. 

However, with proper oral care and dental hygiene like avoiding bottle feeding at bedtime, minimising sugar intake and proper brushing habits, ECC can be prevented to a certain level. And in severe conditions, taking the early childhood caries treatment is a must to avoid major dental problems among the kids.

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Is Oral Submucous Fibrosis Cancer? Symptoms & Best Treatment

Oral Submucous Fibrosis
Is Oral Submucous Fibrosis Cancer? Symptoms & Best Treatment

Oral diseases usually include various problems or ailments related to teeth or gums that are very common among people across the world. However, several other oral diseases can cause serious health issues. Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is one of them that slowly tightens and hardens the tissues inside the mouth, making it difficult to chew or consume foods.       

And if it is ignored and untreated, it can cause oral cancer. So, right here we are going to discuss about this serious oral problem (OSMF), what its causes and symptoms are, whether it is cancerous and how to cure the OSMF with the best treatment for oral submucous fibrosis.   

Also Read: Which is Better Dental Implants or Dentures?

What is Oral Submucous Fibrosis?

Oral submucous fibrosis or OSMF is a chronic oral condition that affects the mucous lining of the mouth, characterised by stiffness of the oral tissues. Once such conditions happen, you will face difficulty in opening the mouth with a burning sensation and feeling of pain while eating or speaking.       

A serious oral condition affects the cheeks from inside with a progressive process hardening the tissues of the mouth that makes it very difficult to speak, chew food and feel pain. Though there are various reasons behind the OSMF, chewing of areca nut (betel nut) and tobacco products are the main causes.

What Causes Oral Submucous Fibrosis?

It is a disease caused by a chronic malignant condition that is usually caused by chewing the areca nut or betel nut (Supari in Hindi) or other tobacco based products. The arecoline in the nut causes excessive collagen production, and other ingredients like copper harden the tissues, causing such symptoms.

The main chemical, arecoline, when it enters the system, triggers the body to produce more collagen that is usually broken down and replaced, but excessive or constant chewing builds up, causing the OSMF. On the other hand, smoking and consuming alcohol increase the risk and accelerate tissue damage.

Submucous Fibrosis Symptoms

Sometimes at the initial stage, no such sign or symptoms are visible among such patients, but when it grows, you can notice various symptoms of OSMF as discussed below.     

Burning Sensation: This is an early sign that most people notice when submucous fibrosis starts. And you can feel such a burning sensation in your mouth, especially when consuming spicy food. 

Frequent Ulcer in Mouth: Recurrent ulcer or blister-like lesions in the mouth are another symptom of OSMF. Though such ulcer may appear and disappear, but it can be a sign of OSMF.   

Pale Mucosa: When you see the inner lining of the mouth become pale or light yellow or white, showing a veined appearance, it could be an indication of the OSMF. 

Dry Mouth or Excessive Salivation: If your mouth has more than required saliva or becomes frequently dry (xerostomia), you should not ignore it, as it could be a signal of oral submucous fibrosis.      

Cheek Tightness or Stiffness: This is one of the most indicative signs of this oral disease. Yes, when you feel tightness or a reduction in the flexibility in your cheeks, it could be a symptom of OSMF.  

Less Wide Mouth Opening: It is an advanced symptom of OSMF, but progressive in nature. When you are not able to open your mouth properly or widely, with restricted stretch, it is a signal of this oral disease. 

White Patches or Leukoplakia: Though it is an early sign, it should never be ignored, as it could be a serious indication of oral submucous fibrosis.     

Reduced Tongue Mobility: When you face difficulty moving your tongue or feel reduced mobility. However, there are various other similar symptoms you can use to detect the submucous fibrosis.     

Oral Submucous Fibrosis

How to Detect Oral Submucous Fibrosis?

To detect oral submucous fibrosis, you can keep in mind various symptoms listed above. However, to confirm the same, you need to go through a test or clinical examination by a medical expert, such as a dentist or an oral cancer specialist, who can better understand and diagnose this disease.

Apart from early to advanced symptoms like pale mucosa, reduced mouth opening, stiff tongue and lips, burning sensation and xerostomia with a history of areca nut chewing, there are various diagnostic procedures that can be performed to detect the oral submucous fibrosis.  

Biopsy and Ultrasonography are the popular diagnostic procedures used to detect the OSMF. And one of the best advantages of going through the diagnostic procedure is that when you go through these medical tests, it will help to know the stage of oral submucous fibrosis.

Oral Submucous Fibrosis Staging

Usually, the oral submucous fibrosis divided into four stages, which are characterised by the oral situation of the mouth and the malignant condition of the cheek. Based on the history of areca nut or tobacco habits and the clinical symptoms, it is classified into four stages.  

Oral Submucous Fibrosis Staging Clinical Features:

Stage 1 (Early): At this stage, a patient can feel inflammation with excessive salivation and blanching of the oral mucosa. While the slightly reduced mouth opening (>35 mm or >30 mm, depending on the classification system) could be considered normal. 

Stage 2 (Moderate): In this stage, along with the reduced mouth opening (between 20–35 mm), palpable fibrous bands appear in the buccal mucosa and/or oropharynx.

Stage 3 (Advanced): When submucous fibrosis is a severe condition, featuring stiff vertical bands limiting the mouth opening (between 10–20 mm), or the patient is facing a problem while eating or speaking.

Stage 4 (Very Advanced): This is a critical stage of oral submucous fibrosis in which mouth opening is restricted to less than 10–15 mm. And in this stage, 4A shows there is potential for malignant disorders like leukoplakia or erythroplakia, while in stage 4B, it means confirmed oral carcinoma (cancer).   

Is Oral Submucous Fibrosis Cancer?

Though oral submucous fibrosis is not considered cancer, it is a precancerous or potentially malignant condition of such critical disease. But it is a progressive disease with a chronic history of chewing areca nut and tobacco with burning sensation, stiffness in the cheek, pale patches in the mouth and reduced mouth opening.

Initially, it is not cancerous, but if it reaches the fourth stage or third stage and left untreated, there is a significant risk of turning the OSMF into oral cancer, which is also known as squamous cell carcinoma.     

Who are at the Risk?

Anyone having the habit of regularly chewing the betel quid, areca nut or betel nut is mostly at risk of Oral submucous fibrosis. Middle-aged people with a history of long years of chewing such nuts can have this oral disease, and if diagnosed at the third or fourth stage, it could be cancerous.

However, adults and young people who start chewing such products are also affected by the OSMF. And if ignored or not cured in a timely manner, with a progressive chronic history, it could become an oral cancer for anyone seriously affected by the various symptoms of OSMF.    

How to Cure Oral Submucous Fibrosis?

One of the best ways to cure this disease is when you notice any early sign of OSMF, you should immediately stop the habit of chewing the betel nuts or any such tobacco-based products. At the initial stage, you can control the growth of OSMF by improving your food eating habits, like adding various nutritious foods to your regular diet and follow try the natural treatment for oral submucous fibrosis.

Natural Treatment for Oral Submucous Fibrosis

To cure the early stage of OSMF, you can use Aloe Vera, Turmeric, Triphala, Spirulina, Lycopene and Ginkgo Biloba or Green Tea. Apart from this, you also need to maintain your oral hygiene and add vitamins A, C, and E-rich foods to your regular diet to promote healing. 

Meanwhile, to avoid the burning sensation around the affected area or triggering of burning in your mouth, you need to avoid consuming abrasive, hot or spicy food items. And if it has not healed with these natural remedies, you need to get the special treatment to cure the OSMF.  

Best Treatment for Oral Submucous Fibrosis

The treatment of oral submucous fibrosis is based on the oral condition and stage of the OSMF. From steroids and hyaluronidase injections to physiotherapy and surgery, the treatment is recommended as per the condition of submucous fibrosis in the mouth. 

Complete Quitting of Chewing Habit: Whatever the treatments of medicine you take to cure the OSMF, if you don’t quit the chewing of betel nuts and similar products completely, it cannot be cured.  

Intralesional Injections: These injections contain the corticosteroids combined with hyaluronidase, which helps to reduce the inflammation and soften fibrous bands.

Nutritional Supplements: The doctor will also recommend natural supplements and antioxidants such as Lycopene, Curcumin, and Aloe vera, along with Vitamin A, B-complex, and C to support the healing process. 

Physiotherapy: Exercising your mouth daily using the tongue depressors, props, or specialised devices or simply without such devices, will help to improve the mobility and a slight improvement in the mouth. 

Oral Surgery: The surgical process is done when the oral condition is severe or when the mouth opening reduced to less than 15 mm. In this process, the oral surgeon removes the fibrotic bands and uses various techniques like buccal fat pads, nasolabial flaps, or grafts to cover the affected area. However, in some cases, low-level laser therapy is also used to treat this oral disease in the severe conditions.       

Conclusion

Oral submucous fibrosis is not a cancer; it is an oral disease caused by regular habit or chewing the areca nut and can be cured with early-stage detection. However, people with progressive OSMF with a chronic history of chewing the betel nuts or areca nut and similar tobacco-based products that contain arecoline can cause cancer, especially if it is ignored or untreated in a timely manner.    

Leaving the habit of chewing areca nut, adding various food supplements enriched with Vitamin A, C, and E, and physiotherapy can easily cure theoral submucous fibrosis. But for the timely diagnosis and right treatment of the same, you need to visit your nearest best dentist in Greater Noida. Here, the dentist will diagnose the oral condition of your mouth and recommend the suitable treatment.       

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Top Frequently Asked Questions on Implant Supported Dentures

FAQs on Implant Supported Dentures
Top Frequently Asked Questions on Implant Supported Dentures

Dentures are usually a full set of teeth used to replace missing teeth, with normal functioning of chewing. Dentures are recommended when you have multiple teeth missing or all your teeth are extracted, and you don’t have a single one to bite or chew food.  

While for single or a couple of extracted teeth, you can have dental implants or bridges to get the new teeth. But do you know that implant-supported dentures are also popular in the market? Yes, we are going to discuss here all the frequently asked questions about implant-supported dentures with their answers.

Q. 1. What are Implant-Supported Dentures?

Ans. Implant-supported dentures are a type of overdenture supported with attached dental implants in the jawbone that is stretched outward from the gums. Just like dentures, implant-supported dentures are used to replace various teeth at a time, but instead of resting on the top of your gums, they are attached directly to your jawbone, just like dental implants.  

Also Read: What is Dental Implantology & How are Dental Implants Done

Q. 2. How Do Implant Supported Dentures Work?

Ans. An implant support denture is placed into or screwed into the titanium posts through a surgical process in the jawbone. The entire process takes several hours, in which the dentist inserts two or more titanium rods or screws in the jaw to provide better support and strength to dentures.       

Also Read: Why Dental Implants Are Important and its Benefits

Compared to traditional dentures, implant support dentures are more stable, removable, or fixed dental prosthetics, which also prevents bone loss and improves chewing ability. The implant-supported dentures can be used for both upper and lower jaws, and look like permanent dentures with of natural teeth appearance. 

Q. 3. Different Types of Implant Supported Dentures

Ans. Mainly, there are two types of implant supported dentures – One is, fixed implant-supported dentures, which is also called hybrid dentures, and the second one is removable implant-supported dentures, also known as overdenture with different attributes.   

Fixed implant-supported dentures are permanently attached to the implants through screws or cement that cannot be removed by the users, providing more stability and strength. Whereas removable implant-supported dentures snap onto implants, which allows users to remove it and clean as needed. 

Q. 4. How Many Implants are needed for Implant Supported Dentures?

Ans. It depends on the position or arch location of placement and the types of implant-supported dentures. The lower jaw dentures need 2 to 4 implants, while the upper jaw denture requires 4-6 due to high bone density. And for the entire all-on-4, four implants are needed to support a full arch.      

Also Read: Steps in Dental Implant Placement: Step-by-Step Procedure

If a dental implant is removable, it can be supported by just two to four implants. While for fixed implants, it requires at least four implants for more stability. However, patients with weak jawbones might require more implants to create a stable foundation for the implant supported dentures.     

FAQs on Implant Supported Dentures

Q. 5. How Long Do Implant Supported Dentures Last?

Ans. The life of implant-supported dentures depends on the types of implants and the quality of material used. However, a titanium-made implant can last up to the lifetime of the user, while a prosthetic tooth or overdenture can last up to 20 years.

The life of implant-supported dentures also depends on the maintenance and oral care of the patient. The implants are more durable and don’t need such maintenance, but for dentures, more care is required, as it can wear and tear with normal use after 5 to 10 years. 

Q. 6. What is the Difference Between Implants and Implant Supported Dentures?

Ans. Dental implants are applied for a single tooth implanted with individual titanium screws, which work like an artificial tooth. While implant-supported dentures are used for the arches of teeth anchored onto 4–8 implants, providing more stability compared to traditional dentures. 

Also Read: Dental Bridge and Dental Implant Difference: Which is Better

Implants are the fixed and permanent solution to get new teeth, while implant-supported dentures can be removed or can be fixed as per the needs and usability of the users. Implants can be expensive due to single tooth implant, while implant-supported dentures are more economical due to restoring multiple teeth.     

Q. 7. What are the Disadvantages of Implant Supported Dentures?

Ans. The drawback of implant-supported dentures includes the high cost of treatment, the requirement of an invasive surgical process, and the fact that it can take months to heal completely. Apart from that, during the surgery, there is also a risk of infection, nerve damage and long-term maintenance requirements.

Apart from this, it also requires extra maintenance and care to ensure the functionality of the teeth. And to support such implant supported dentures, the bone density must be healthy.

Q. 8. What is the Best Material for Implant Supported Dentures?

Ans. Though there are various types of materials that can be used for implant-supported dentures, Zirconia is the best one, providing the highest durability with an aesthetic look. However, Titanium-Acrylic (Hybrid) is also used to give more comfort with shock-absorbing properties at a low cost.

However, Zirconia can provide more strength and strain resistance, while on the other hand, titanium is stronger and more reliable with a bio-compatible base to fix the jawbone.      

Q. 9. How to Clean Implant Supported Dentures?

Ans. For removable implant support dentures, you can simply remove them and properly clean them using a toothbrush or a non-abrasive paste. On the other hand, for fixed implant support dentures, you can use the water flosser, dental flow or gently clean with a toothbrush.

Also Read: What is Dental Scaling and Polishing or Cleaning: Difference

You also need to brush the metal attachments used in implants with a soft brush to remove bacteria. However, you can also use the proxy brush or use the floss threaders to clean your teeth.

Q. 10. How to Care for Implant Supported Dentures?

Ans. To take care of your implant-supported dentures, you need daily cleaning of both the prosthetic and the underlying implants to protect your teeth from infection. You can brush thoroughly using the soft-bristle toothpaste and clean the metal abutments with a soft brush to remove bacteria.

However, for removable implant-supported dentures, you brush with a soft-bristle brush and a non-abrasive cleaner, and soak nightly. And for fixed dentures, you can use flossing with threaders or Waterpiks.

Q. 11. How to Remove Implant Supported Dentures?

Ans. Removing implant-supported dentures depends on the type of implant supported dentures you have.  You can take out removable implant-supported dentures yourself at home daily or as per your ease.

While on the other hand, to remove the fixed-hybrid dentures, you need to visit the best dentist in Greater Noida. The dentist will use the advanced tools and techniques to complete this process safely. The dentist will gently lift the denture base away from the gum line to detach it from the implant abutments.

Q. 12. How Much Do Implant Supported Dentures Cost?

Ans. The cost of implant supported dentures also depends on the type of implant dentures you choose for your missing teeth. The implant supported dentures may cost you between Rs 50,000 and Rs 1,50,000 as per the types of implant-supported dentures and the material used in dentures.

Fixed hybrid dentures and removable hybrid dentures are the least costly compared to full mouth implant dentures, which may cost you between Rs 1,50,000 and Rs 3,50,000. However, the cost of treatment also depends on the location of your city and experience of the dentist specialised in dental implant services.  

Also Read: Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions about Dental Implants

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Which is Better Dental Implants or Dentures? Key Differences

dentures vs implants
Which is Better Dental Implants or Dentures? Key Differences

After tooth extraction, getting the new tooth, you have various options like crowns, bridges, implants and dentures. However, dental implants or dentures are the most popular ones because most people prefer to get new teeth in their mouth with a more aesthetic look.  

However, both are different from each other in terms of their applications, installation procedure, cost of treatment and taking care. And before you choose the right one suitable for you or your dentist recommends to you, you need to understand the difference between them.   

What are Dentures?

Dentures are removable full-fledged artificial teeth structures made from prosthetic devices to replace missing teeth, providing the normal functionality to users. The dentures are made of acrylic or metal and can sit over the gum line with stability, providing the ability to speak and eat normally.

Dentures are usually used in dentistry when most of the teeth are extracted or missing from the mouth. However, depending on the quantity of missing teeth and the oral condition of the patient, different types of dentures can be used to provide a perfect tooth structure.

As per the practices in dentistry, the three most popular types of dentures are in use. Conventional Full Dentures replace the entire set of missing teeth, and partial dentures replace some set of teeth. And the last one is implant-supported dentures installed through dental implants.

Also Read: Dental Bridge and Dental Implant Difference: Which is Better

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are artificial teeth made of long-lasting metal, such as titanium, used to replace a missing tooth by surgically placing them into the jawbone. Compared to crowns, bridges, and dentures, dental implants provide a more solid foundation for the new tooth.   

Though the dental procedure of implants is more critical than crowns and bridges, once installed, they provide a natural look with a durable solution for long-lasting performance to enjoy a normal eating experience. Just like dentures, dental implants are also of three types, Endosteal, Subperiosteal and Zygomatic, used as per the jaw condition, compatibility and affordability of the patient. 

Dentures vs Implants

Dentists use dentures or implants to provide a new set of teeth to people, although both have their own characteristics, applicability and process of installation. However, both are used in dentistry to provide an artificial tooth with the capability to chew, bite and perform other daily oral functions. But still, they are different from each other in many ways, so let’s find out the difference between dentures and implants.

Dentures vs Implants: Difference

AspectsDenturesImplants
FunctionalityDentures also provide the normal functionality of biting and chewing, but not as much as implants.As the tooth is anchored into the roots, it provides strong and natural functionality like the original one.
AppearanceDentures also look aesthetic, but don’t have the natural look as much as implants.Dental Implants give a more natural look with aesthetic appearance and comfort.
StabilityDentures can last 5 to 10 years, depending on the quality of the denture and the care taken by the users.Implants can last 15 to 25 years, depending on the type of implant, maintenance and oral care.
MaintenanceTo ensure the maintenance of dentures, you need to remove it and separately clean them carefully.No special care taking, just normal and regular brushing and flossing is enough to clean the teeth.
Treatment CostDentures are more affordable compared to implants and can be the best solution for quick and low-cost teeth replacement.Due to more critical or surgical and time-consuming dental procedures, implants are much costlier than dentures.
Advantages  Dentures are a low-cost solution for a high number of missing teeth, quick and easy to make and place.Implants provide a more natural and sturdy tooth with long-lasting performance and don’t need special care.
DisadvantagesShorter life, less chewing strength, discomfort due to adjustments and need extra care and maintenance.It is a complicated, time-consuming and costly surgical procedure that requires healthy jawbones to place properly.

Dental Implants or Dentures, Which is Better

Dentures are an affordable and quick dental solution to get a new set of teeth, and can be removed as per comfort. Its dental procedure is neither too complicated nor time-consuming; it can be easily made with getting the impression of your gums and jawbones.

dentures vs implants

While implants are a long-lasting solution to get new teeth with a stronger base to chew or bite without any discomfort. Though its treatment cost is higher than dentures, it can provide a natural tooth with an aesthetic look with normal care and maintenance. Dentures don’t provide any protection to jawbones, while an implant helps to protect the jawbones with long-lasting performance.     

Conclusion

Choosing between dentures or implants may not be your sole decision, as per your oral condition and need for missing teeth, the dentist can suggest the right one. Dental implants are more suitable if you need to replace a small number of teeth, while dentures are more suitable if most of the teeth are missing. However, if you are looking for new teeth with long years of performance and can afford the dental procedure, then you can go for Dental implant services in Greater Noida. While seeking a quick, more affordable and normal functioning teeth structure, then debentures can also meet your requirements.    

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What Happens if You Don’t Replace a Missing Tooth: Side Effects & Solution

Effect of Missing Tooth
What Happens if You Don’t Replace a Missing Tooth: Side Effects & Solution

Chewing the food without teeth would not only be difficult, but your teeth structure is also affected, especially when you smile or speak publicly in front of others. Without a few of the teeth, you might not face enough problems, but sometimes, without a tooth, you can face various problems. 

In fact, there are various side effects of the missing tooth, and you need to understand that to avoid major dental problems. So, right here we are going to discuss about the missing teeth or Tooth Removal Services in Greater Noida, what happens when you don’t replace them, its side effects and how to fix or cover a missing tooth.

What Happens When You don’t Replace a Missing Tooth?

When you lose your teeth or have them extracted from the roots and don’t get a new tooth in that place, you might face several health problems. The missing tooth causes a domino effect on oral health that can shift your adjacent teeth, and in severe conditions, you could have bone loss. And these kinds of conditions can lead to a reduction of bone density in the initial years. The missing tooth can have several side effects; let’s find out in detail how it can affect your mouth and teeth structure.

Side Effects of Missing Teeth:

Loss of Jawbone

The roots of the tooth stimulate the jawbone that reabsorbs the bone, helping to stabilise the chewing and biting activities. And when there are no teeth, the area of bone where the tooth is located does not get such stimulation and disappears after a few years, which leads to a sunken, wrinkled, and aged facial appearance.

Facial Collapse:

When you have sufficient teeth in your mouth, you can also notice the facial collapse. Along with the gums, the entire tooth structure provides support to the muscles of the face. And when you don’t have teeth in your mouth, your facial muscles will not get such support, resulting in facial collapse as a long-term effect.     

Lack of Nutrition

Teeth are meant for biting and chewing food, and with a set of teeth, you can easily and properly consume all types of food. But without having teeth, you would not be able to bite or chew several essential foods that provide the necessary nutrition to the body. And it is not possible to consume everything in a liquid state.  Hence, a lack of teeth can also lead to a lack of nutrition in your body.

Digestion Issues

On the other hand, when you try to consume several food items that need extra effort to chew and have missing teeth, it would not be possible. And engulfing the improperly chewed food will put extra work on your digestive system, also affecting your liver.  And in the long term, the impact of such eating habits can badly affect your entire digestive system.  

Misalignment of Teeth

When you bite or chew food, the structure of your teeth gets extra pressure on both sides of the teeth. And when you have the adjacent teeth, all of them get support from each other with the ability absorb or distribute the extra pressure on the teeth.

But when you have all the set of teeth, and while putting pressure on the remaining teeth, they drift towards the gap where the missing tooth is supposed to be. And drifting of such teeth towards the missing teeth disturbed the alignment of the entire tooth structure.

Chances of Infection

When you have a missing tooth, the gum areas uncovered are exposed, making that area more prone to gum disease. And such diseases can damage the tissues of the gums, which can affect your other teeth. On the other hand, bacterial infections can lead to loss of the tooth, which will further escalate the deterioration of the gums, with the chances of potential loss of teeth. 

Deficiency of Speaking

When you have the proper teeth alignment due to the lack of missing teeth, then it would also become very difficult to speak, especially while pronouncing certain words. And sometimes there could be a missing tooth that can lead to difficulty while speaking properly. 

Other Health Risks  

Apart from these, with missing teeth, you might also face various other health problems, like feeling pain while chewing, as it puts extra pressure on the remaining teeth. Similarly, without teeth, gums are more prone to infections, which can enter your body or bloodstream, which can create other serious health issues like diabetes, heart diseases, liver or kidney infection and Alzheimer’s disease, etc. 

missing tooth

How to Replace a Missing Tooth?

To replace your missing teeth, you have various options to get new teeth. You can choose to get the dental bridges with a crown, dental implants or removable partial dentures. Every dental procedure to replace the missing teeth has its own pros and cons, such as the cost of treatment, time and effort required.

Though based on the tooth location and condition, the best dentist in Greater Noida can suggest the best dental procedure to replace your missing teeth. On the other hand, affordability and flexibility for the patient to get the right one or the best treatment for missing teeth are the other major factors considered.

Best Solution for a Missing Tooth

Though there are multiple options to get the new teeth in place of the missing teeth. But Dental implants are considered the best solution for a missing tooth. When you get the new tooth through Dental implant services, it will not give a natural tooth structure, but also be very strong and long-lasting, giving you a permanent teeth solution for various types of teeth. 

Although the dental implant procedure is a little critical and costly compared to other dental procedures, it can provide you with a permanent and long-lasting solution.  The teeth implanted through dental implants provide good strength with the functionality to chew food properly, with a natural look. And you don’t need to take extra precautions or care for your teeth; you just need normal oral care and hygiene. 

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Dental Crown & Filling: Do You Need Crown After Dental Filling?

dental filling and crown
Dental Crown & Filling: Do You Need Crown After Dental Filling?

Dental procedures in dentistry are performed as per the patient’s teeth condition and requirement at that point in time. However, there are several dental procedures that are performed individually, but some of them are not completed, or you can say not become successful without performing other procedures.

A dental filling is a dental procedure that is sometimes completed without any further treatment process or dental procedures. However, sometimes after filling, the dentist also performs the dental and bridge. So right here today we are going to discuss about dental fillings and crowns.      

When you need only a dental filling, or when you need only a dental crown and when you need both a crown after filling. Let’s start with their introduction, their individual roles in dentistry and when both are needed.  

What is a Dental Filling?

When your teeth are affected with the initial stage of cavity or decay and cracks, the dentist performs this procedure. In the dental filling, the dentists remove the cavity or decayed part and clean the surface to remove any deposited substance.

And after removing all these, the dentist performs the dental filling process. And there could be different types of materials that can be used, like composite (tooth-colored), amalgam (silver), gold, or porcelain to restore the tooth’s shape, function, and prevent any further decay. 

When Do You Need a Tooth Filling? 

The dental filling can be performed in various situations, but usually dentists do this when there is a cavity in the teeth or the tooth is decayed. However, when you have a sensitivity problem or if there is any hole or pit sign in your teeth, you need a dental filling.

In dental filling, after cleaning and removing the cavities, the space left is filled with suitable materials. The filled material forms a solid substance and protects your teeth from additional deterioration. However, you can choose the filling material as per the availability with the dentist and your affordability.

dental filling and crown

What is a Dental Crown?

It is a kind of helmet, or you can say a head covering cap, to protect your tooth from pressure and restore its appearance, shape, size and strength. This crown is used to cover the teeth from the gumline to cover the entire visible tooth, protecting it from decay, cracks, and weak teeth.

In a dental crown, there are different types of materials used, like porcelain/ceramic, metal alloys, and porcelain-fused-to-metal or composite resin. The type of material need to use in the dental crown depends on the condition of the tooth and the affordability of the patient. 

When do you Need a Dental Crown?

The dental crown is one of the popular dental procedures usually performed when your tooth is cracked or broken or badly decayed. And in some situations, when your teeth are worn down after performing a critical dental procedure like a root canal, then a crown is required to cap such a tooth.

In fact, the dental crown is used to restore the strength of the teeth and give them a shape and the right functionality to cover the dental implant or broken teeth or discoloured teeth. And most importantly, it gives a natural look to a treated tooth with the strength to bite and chew food without any issue.    

Also Read: What is a Composite Filling: How it is Done & Take Care of it?

When Do You Need a Crown Over a Filling?

The crown is usually done after most of the filling dental procedure, as filling is not strong enough to resist the biting or chewing activities of the teeth. While filling is just used to fill the hole or gap in the cavity, a crown is used to cover such filled teeth. However, let’s find out exactly when you need a crown after filling or why filling is not enough for such treated teeth.      

Major Cavities: When your tooth is decayed with large major cavities and a large area of the tooth is affected by the cavity, then you need a crown to protect the weakened filling area on your tooth.

Multiple Fillings: When your teeth have undergone multiple filling procedures, you need a crown to protect the layer. In fact, the tooth filled multiple times makes its wall fragile, but a crown can protect it.

After Root Canal: Root canal treatment (RCT) is one of the most critical dental procedures in the dentistry that is performed to treat a tooth badly damaged from the roots. In fact, after RCT, the tooth no longer has its nerve and blood flow which makes the tooth fragile, and that can be protected through a dental crown. 

Gaps Between Teeth: If your two teeth have extra gaps, they can be filled with the dental crown. The gap between the teeth provides enough space to cover its surroundings. The dental filling can also be applied to fill such gaps, but it would not be long-lasting unless it is covered with a crown.

Cracked or Broken Tooth: It is one of the most common reasons the dental crown is applied to cover a broken or cracked tooth. Covering such fractured tooth with a crown can hold the tooth’s structure and stop further spreading cracks, and prevent further damage or exposure to nerves.  

Severely Damaged Tooth: And if your tooth is badly damaged due to injury or for any other accidental reasons, then after performing the filling, a dental crown is necessary. It will protect the tooth from external forces and provide a natural strength and feeling to bite or chew food items.   

Summing-up

The dental filling and dental crown are both the type of dental procedure usually performed collaboratively. However, the dental filling is performed when your tooth is affected by a cavity, decay or plaque. The dentist removes such cavities, and to fill the space, the filling process is performed. And there are different types of materials, like composite or metal-based fillers, which are used in this procedure. 

On the other hand, a dental crown is a dental procedure in which a damaged or treated tooth is covered with a crown to protect it and provide natural strength. Usually, a crown is performed when a tooth is broken, damaged, cavity-affected or after root canal treatment. And after most of the filling, the crown is necessary to uphold the strength and functionality of the tooth while giving a natural look.   If you are looking for any of these dental procedures or need both of them, dental filling and dental crown in the Greater Noida area, you can visit your nearest one of the best dental clinics in Greater Noida. Here you can get the best dental care and treatment at minimal visits, with the least pain and at reasonable charges.   

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What is Dental Scaling and Polishing or Cleaning: Difference

dental scaling
What is Dental Scaling and Polishing or Cleaning: Difference

In dentistry, there are different types of dental procedures that people are not fully aware of. And because of such misconceptions, they are not able to decide which dental procedure or treatment is suitable for them. However, when you visit a dental clinic for check-ups or for any problems, your dentist tells you which dental procedure is suitable for you as per your tooth condition.

Dental scaling, dental polishing or cleaning are a few terminologies in dentistry that people are not able to differentiate which one is suitable to clean or polish their teeth or can make their teeth look whiter. Here we are going to discuss about the key differences between these three dental procedures.

So, let’s start with the introduction of a few words about these dental techniques and then we will discuss how they are different from each other in terms of their applications.

What is Dental Cleaning?

It is a dental procedure performed to clean the teeth professionally, especially to remove the plaque and tartar, a hardened plaque substance from the tooth surfaces usually deposited below the gumline. This cleaning of teeth is performed not only to clean the teeth to look fresh but also to prevent cavities and gum disease.

This dental procedure, also called prophylaxis, is one of the most commonly followed standard dental procedures in dentistry. You can get your teeth cleaned during regular visits or usual dental check-ups. However, as per the dental associations globally, it is recommended to get your teeth cleaned twice a year to stay healthy.     

What is Dental Scaling?

Dental or teeth scaling is a deep dental cleaning procedure that involves the removal of hardened plaque (tartar) and stains from tooth surfaces, mainly around the gumline. In dental scaling, use the ultrasonic tools and manual scalers to remove the bacteria and deposits.

Further, the scaling process also involves root planing for smoothing the roots, which helps gums to get reattached and prevent any further infection or bad breath, helping you to save your teeth from potential loss. This is a critical and time-consuming dental procedure that needs extra care and experience to perform carefully.  

What is Dental Polishing?

Usually, this procedure is performed after teeth cleaning or scaling to smooth and shine the surface of the tooth. During dental polishing, dentists usually remove the external stains, including plaque and debris left after scaling, to give teeth a glossy finish.

The teeth polishing dental procedure not only makes teeth look brighter and feel cleaner, but it also helps to prevent future buildup of plaque or tartar. However, it is different from teeth whitening services in which, after removing the stains, the colour of the tooth is also changed using a medical procedure.  

Dental Polishing

Difference Between Dental Cleaning, Scaling and Polishing:

AspectsDental CleaningDental ScalingDental Polishing
DefinitionCleaning is the process of cleaning the teeth to make them look professionally clean and brighter.Scaling is the process that involves removing the hard plaque or tartar from the tooth surfaces and gumline. Polishing is the process of polishing the surface of teeth to make it look brighter, smoother or shinier. 
PurposeMainly to clean the teeth and the surrounding area around the gums to remove the stains and cavities.Scaling is performed to remove the calculus and prevent tooth decay and gum disease.  Polishing is done to remove the surface stains and makes teeth look brighter with a glossy finish.
ProcedureUsually, normal hand instruments and medical solutions are used to clean the tooth professionally.Ultrasonic scalers or devices are used along with hand instruments to perform this procedure. Along with hand scalers, an electric polisher and rotating rubber cap are used with polishing paste to perform it.
Focused AreaUsually, the upper gumline area or crown surface area is targeted while performing this procedure.In this dental procedure, above and below the gum line, including the roots, are the main areas.The main focus area in this dental procedure is the outer surface of teeth, performed for cosmetic treatment.   
Discomfort LevelsIt is usually a painless dental procedure in which patients do not go through any kind of discomfort.   The discomfort level in this procedure is from mild to moderate, as in some cases anaesthesia is used. It is also a painless dental procedure unless the patient has a problem with polishing materials.   
FrequencyIt can be performed up to two times in a year, or depending on the condition of the patient. It can be performed every six months or twice a year, and in some cases every 3-4 months.It can also be performed every six months, depending on the condition and oral health.  
Cost of Treatment  It is comparatively less expensive than scaling and polishing.The cost of scaling is higher due to a critical dental procedure.Polishing is affordable than scaling but can be costlier than cleaning.   
Best Suitable forIt is suitable for everyone to get their teeth professionally cleaned to prevent gum disease.Scaling is suitable for removing plaque and tartar to prevent cavities, bad breath, and gum disease.It is suitable for anyone seeking brighter teeth or to remove external stains and prevent tartar buildup.

Summing-up

All these dental procedures are different from each other in terms of their applications and requirements. Dental cleaning is simply a cleaning process to clean your teeth and gums, while scaling involves more critical procedures to remove plaque and tartar deposited around the teeth or around the gumline.

On the other hand, dental polishing is the process of cleaning and polishing the teeth to make them look brighter with extra shine. However, all these dental procedures are usually performed under the teeth whitening services that you can get at any of the best dental clinics in Greater Noida or in your city.

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How to Get Rid of Yellow Teeth? Home Remedies and Treatment

yellow teeth treatment, remedy for yellow teeth
How to Get Rid of Yellow Teeth? Home Remedies and Treatment

Teeth are one of the most important parts of our body; you need to keep them clean and healthy. However, with time passing and after a certain age, our teeth become yellow. Even though you brush daily, you still notice the colour of your teeth is not that white.

Although some people have pale yellow or dark yellowish brown, that might be because of chewing tobacco products or not regularly cleaning their mouths. So, we are going to discuss here about yellow teeth, how you can get rid of this problem with some of the home remedies and the best treatment for yellow teeth.

Causes of Yellow Teeth

Though there could be multiple reasons behind the yellow teeth, depending on the teeth’s structure and the lifestyle of the person. However, a few reasons for yellow teeth are very common, like chewing tobacco products or smoking, excessive drinking of coffee, cold drinks and other colour-based beverages. Let’s find out what the other reasons could be and how they affect your teeth in detail. 

Smoking and Tobacco: This is one of the prime reasons why your teeth become yellow. However, in some cases, the excessive consumption of such products and not cleaning your teeth can make your teeth dark or brownish.  The content of tar and nicotine in tobacco products makes your teeth yellow and brownish.

Pigmented Food & Drinks: The caffeine in the coffee, tea, soft drinks, alcoholic drinks and chocolates is the reason causing stained enamel in your teeth. These foods and beverages are pigmented and cause a kind of stain, making your teeth look yellow or light brown.   

Unhygienic Oral Condition: Irregular brushing of your teeth and poor oral hygiene lead to plaque and tartar on your teeth, making them become yellow. And when the tartar remains stuck for longer days on your teeth, it makes your teeth look brownish.    

yellow teeth treatment, remedy for yellow teeth

Cure or Home Remedies for Yellow Teeth

The yellow teeth becoming brownish can cause major dental problems like tooth decay (cavities), gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis), and tooth sensitivity. Hence, you need to take care of yellow teeth and avoid the major dental problems. However, at the initial stage of the ageing of your teeth, you can take care of your teeth with some of the natural remedies at home.

Yellow Teeth Treatment at Home:

Oil Pulling: This is one of the most common and useful techniques to remove stains from your teeth. Just take one tablespoon of oil, like coconut oil, in your mouth and keep it for 15 minutes, then spit it out. Coconut oil has antimicrobial properties that can help you reduce plaque build-up that causes yellow stains.    

Baking Soda & Hydrogen Peroxide: You can either use the baking soda with water to clean your teeth. And you can use the hydrogen peroxide to get the bleaching effect. Just mix and make a small paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, and gently scrub away surface stains.

Activated Charcoal: It has an absorbent property that removes pigment from the surface of your teeth. You can brush gently with activated charcoal powder, or rub it on your teeth, for up to 2 minutes and rinse with water thoroughly. However, if you have sensitive teeth, use it limitedly to avoid damaging enamel.     

Rinse with Vinegar or Apple Cider: You can dilute apple cider vinegar with water and swish for about a minute. However, don’t forget to rinse your mouth with plain water after applying this. And use this home remedy cautiously, only once or twice a week, to avoid the harmful effects on tooth enamel.

Dental Treatment for Yellow Teeth

The home remedies for yellow teeth treatment work only when your teeth are yellowish or at the initial stage of stains. And if it becomes very dark, yellow or brownish, it would not be curable with such home remedies. Here, you need to get the professional teeth whitening service for Deep Bleaching Teeth in Greater Noida or near any location in your city or town where you are staying.  

yellow teeth treatment, remedy for yellow teeth

Yellow Teeth Treatment:

Home-based Teeth Whitening

The tooth whitening is one of the best and most effective treatments that you can also perform at home, as well as at the dental clinic. In-home-based teeth whitening service, the dentist will provide you with custom-fit trays and a professional-grade whitening gel that you can apply daily on your teeth to get results.       

Office-based Teeth Whitening

In this medical treatment service, you need to visit the dental clinic where the dentist will use the high-concentration bleaching gels activated by a light or laser. That can considerably remove yellow particles and clean your teeth in a single session lasting 30 to 90 minutes. Here, you can also choose teeth bleaching or the laser whitening technique based on your teeth’s condition and your preference. 

Other Medical Treatment for Yellow Teeth

Apart from this, if you visit the best dental clinic in Greater Noida, you can get other medical treatments to make your teeth look white, such as enamel micro abrasion, dental veneers and dental bonding, which are invasive techniques to get rid of yellow teeth.

In Enamel microabrasion, a paste of fine abrasive is used to gently remove a thin outer layer of enamel, which helps remove surface stains and can address deeper discolouration. Dental veneers can be applied to deeply stained or discoloured teeth that don’t respond to whitening. In this dental procedure, thin shells of porcelain are permanently bonded to the front of the teeth.   

Dental veneers are a long-lasting solution that hides imperfections, but they are more expensive than other dental procedures. Similarly, dental bonding is another effective technique in which a tooth-colored composite resin is applied to the tooth’s surface to cover discolouration. However, it works for a few discoloured teeth, but multiple yellow teeth require touch-ups every few years and are not suitable for widespread discolouration.

Summing-up  

Keeping the yellow teeth cleaned is not only necessary to keep your teeth looking white, but it will also prevent your teeth from cavities and plaque. So, keep regularly brushing and rinse your mouth every time after consuming any caffeine-based drinks and pigmented food items.

To prevent yellow teeth at home, you can use the oil pulling technique, or you can use the baking soda and hydrogen peroxide powder. However, these remedies will work for normal or for yellowish teeth; for dark yellow or brownish teeth, you need to visit the nearest dental clinic in Greater Noida. 

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Difference Between Veneers and Crowns: Which is Better

Crown-vs-Veneer
Difference Between Veneers and Crowns: Which is Better

Your teeth affected by any type of dental problem can be treated with a suitable dental procedure. Crowns, bridges, veneers, dental implants, and root canals are the most popular dental procedures you can get, depending on your dental problem. However, sometimes it becomes difficult to know which one is suitable for you, though the dentist can tell you better, but you also need to be aware of such treatment.

Veneers and Crowns are also one of the most popular dental pressures used to cover your teeth, giving an aesthetic look with their own properties and functionality. Both are used for dental restoration, but they are different from each other in terms of their positioning and covering the teeth.

veneers vs caps

Hence, right here we are going to discuss about the difference between veneers and crowns. It will help you to understand the core differences and which one is better or suitable for your teeth.  

What is Dental Veneers Treatment?

A dental veneer is a thin layer, maybe around 1mm thick, made of porcelain, used to fix on your front teeth. This dental procedure is usually applied in cosmetic treatments, such as when you need to improve the shape and size of your teeth to make them uniform.

Veneers are usually made of porcelain, which, when applied, makes your teeth look more natural and aesthetic. Apart from porcelain, you can also get the composite resin-made veneers that can be a cheaper option, but it is not long-lasting and highly durable. 

What is Dental Crown Treatment?

Dental crowns are a type of capping or headpiece that is used to cover the teeth entirely. This dental procedure is performed to cover the tooth and restore its size, shape, and strength while improving its appearance. And when a crown is placed on your tooth, it fully covers the entire visible portion of the tooth above your gum line, making it look more appealing and natural.    

Also Read: What are the Advantages & Disadvantages of Dental Implants

The crown is usually placed on a tooth when your tooth has a hole due to a cavity or decay, as the dentist removes the decayed part and places the crown to protect your tooth from further decay. The crown is not only placed to cover your decaying tooth, but it also gives your tooth a shield and strength to use your tooth normally for chewing and other functionality. 

What’s the Difference Between a Crown and a Veneer?

The crown is different from veneers in terms of its placement on your teeth, the type of material and the thickness of the same. Apart from that, based on your teeth condition, your affordability and preference, the dentist will apply any of these types of dental procedures to your teeth. However, there are certain other key differences listed below that you should know to understand their applications. 

veneers vs caps

Difference Between a Veneer and a Crown:   

AspectsDental VeneersDental Crowns
Purpose of Use  Veneers are used to improve the appearance of a tooth.  A crown is used to restore and protect a damaged tooth.
PlacementA veneer is applied to cover the front surface of your tooth.  A crown is placed from the top to cover the entire tooth.     
Thickness  Veneer is thin, around 1 millimetre (mm) in thickness.  The Crown is thick, around 2 mm, thicker than the veneer.    
Material Type  The materials used in making veneers are either porcelain or composite resin.  A crown can be made of metal, zirconia, porcelain or porcelain-fused-to-metal.  
Durability  Veneers are less durable than a crown and prone to hard biting or chipping.  Crown is more durable and designed to resist the strong bite or chewing forces.  
Appearance  A veneer looks more aesthetic and natural in an appliance than a dental crown.  Crowns can also give a natural look to your tooth, but not as much as veneers.      
Advantages  Veneers are used for cosmetic treatment that requires less tooth alteration at the time of their application.  Crowns are a complicated but long-lasting dental procedure that requires restoration of the tooth before placing the crown.   
Disadvantages  Veneers are less durable than crowns and need extra care and precautions while chewing.  Crowns are more durable than veneers, but also need care and precautions to last long.
Costing  The cost of veneers is less than that of a crown, as it is a simple cosmetic dental procedure.  The cost of a dental crown is much higher than that of veneers due to the restorative function.   
Lifespan  The life expectancy of veneers is typically around 7 to 10 years with proper care.  The lifespan of a dental crown can extend between 10 and 15 years with usual care.
Suitable for  The veneer dental procedure is suitable for improving your tooth’s appearance.  A crown is suitable when you need to restore or protect a broken or damaged tooth.  

Conclusion: Crown or Veneer: Which is Better? 

Though a crown and veneer are both types of dental procedures used to improve your smile and the function of your tooth. However, the crown and bridge is better for you if you want to protect your damaged, broken or decayed tooth. On the other hand, veneer is better when you need a cosmetic improvement to cover your chipped or cracked tooth, covering only the front surface while preserving the natural structure.    

veneers vs caps

Also Read: What is a Composite Filling: How it is Done & Take Care of it

However, choosing between a crown and veneers is not only about your choice, but it is also about your tooth’s condition and the extent of damage that can be restored with a crown or veneer. And one of the best dentists in Greater Noida can tell you better which one is suitable for you. Hence, if you need any one of them, book your appointment and visit Dr Sinha Dental Clinic for the best dental treatment in Noida.