As your dentist suggests, go for the crown. It's a 3 visit procedure. The old tooth is cut away leaving a "stump" onto which the crown will go. An impression is taken, the crown made and fitted. After a week to 10 days you go back for a quick check that it's sitting properly etc. Can nowadays all be done at once but I prefer to wait a few days for any swelling to go before the crown is fitted.

With an implant, the whole tooth is removed and you then wait at least 3 months for the bone to heal. Sometimes artificial bone will be added and sometimes a sinus lift is needed.

When the bone has healed the dentist will cut into the gum, drill into the bone and fit the implant. It's then another 3 month wait for the bone to attach properly to the implant when a post is fitted, the impression taken, and then a crown fitted to the post.