Dental crowns and bridges fit over injured, discolored, or cracked teeth, or fill the space resulting from dental extractions. They also protect the teeth from further injury or damage and can help to prevent toothaches or discomfort you may be experiencing.
Crowns
Crowns are used to restore both anterior and posterior teeth that have been broken or are at high risk of doing so due to large old fillings or fractures. There are a variety of materials used to design these reconstructions in laboratories. The crowns will look and feel close to your real teeth.
Crowns, also called caps, are indicated if a significant portion of the tooth is missing. Extensive decay, injury, or root canal therapy are usually the reasons when a crown is recommended. Crowns are usually made of either porcelain, ceramic, or precious metals. There are many different types of crowns and together we will determine which type is best suited for your particular need.
During your first visit, we will prepare your tooth structure and then take an impression of the prepared tooth, make a temporary crown to place on the tooth, and send the impression to a dental laboratory to fabricate the crown. At your next visit, we will try-in the crown to ensure a good fit and then cement the crown in place.
Bridges
Bridges are fixed, non-removable prostheses constructed to replace one or more missing teeth. The teeth on both sides of the existing space are used to attach the bridge to restore function and esthetics. Bridges are indicated when at least one tooth is missing. A bridge is composed of abutments and pontics. Abutments are the supports for the bridge and consist of crowns placed on the teeth surrounding the empty space.
The pontics are special crowns that span across the empty space and connect to the abutments. When teeth are prepared for a bridge, the abutments are prepared for crowns as described above crowns. We will then take an impression of the prepared teeth, make a temporary bridge to place on the teeth to protect them and maintain their positions, and send the impression to a dental laboratory to fabricate the bridge. At your next visit, we will try-in the bridge to ensure a good fit and then cement the bridge in place.
