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Dental Crowns and Bridges

Dental crowns and bridges are restorations that strengthen and protect damaged or broken teeth.

Understanding Crowns and Bridges

Crowns are custom-made to cover a tooth completely, so you may hear them referred to as caps or tooth caps. A crown restores comfortable chewing function and strengthens and supports the tooth. Dental bridges replace missing teeth to restore function and complete your smile.

We typically use porcelain or ceramic for these restorations because they mimic the strength and appearance of tooth enamel.

Everyone wants a healthy, beautiful smile, and we can help you reach that goal with dental crowns and bridges. Updated techniques and treatments have made placing crowns and bridges easier than ever.

When Are Dental Crowns and Bridges Used?

Dental crowns are very versatile, and we use them to correct many dental issues, including:

Severely decayed teeth
Teeth weakened by root canal treatment
Fractured or broken teeth
Broken or cracked fillings
Large silver fillings
Top off a dental implant
Support a dental bridge

A dental bridge fills the space left by a missing tooth. We design this restoration as a single unit consisting of an artificial tooth and crowns attached to teeth on either side of the gap. This restoration improves your appearance and prevents surrounding teeth from shifting out of place and moving into the gap left by a missing tooth.

What Does Placing a Crown or Bridge Involve?

We can typically place a dental crown or bridge in as few as two visits. First, we prepare your natural tooth to receive the restoration and take impressions that accurately represent the shape and position of your natural teeth so your restoration fits perfectly.

Next, we send the impressions to a custom dental lab, where skilled technicians use them to create your permanent restoration, which usually takes about two weeks. Before you leave our office, we fit you with a temporary bridge or crown to wear while the lab fabricates the final piece.

Once we receive your final restoration, we schedule an appointment for you to return to our office to check the finished restoration for comfort and make any necessary adjustments. The final step is to cement the custom restoration securely in place.

We will also provide instructions for properly caring for your crown or bridge. The restoration is strong and durable under normal conditions, but it requires care to prevent damage and the possible need for replacement.

If you practice proper oral hygiene and schedule regular dental cleanings, your new restoration will last for many years.

Call to Schedule an Evaluation

Are you troubled by a damaged or missing tooth? Please call our dental office today to schedule an evaluation and learn more about your options!

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do about a fractured tooth?

A fractured tooth is a tooth at risk. You may not even know a tooth is cracked or fractured, or you may feel pain or sensitivity when biting down or exposing the tooth to hot or cold temperatures. An endodontist specialist can diagnose and treat fractures in a tooth and damage to its inner pulp.

Treating fractured teeth is critical. With continuous pressure from chewing, the interior tissues of a tooth may be unable to heal, leading to irritation and even infection. These inner tissues, or pulp, include a tooth’s interior nerves, tissues, and blood vessels.

An endodontist specialist will treat a tooth fracture depending on its location and severity. A dental crown can usually protect teeth with small fractures above the gum line, and you can see your dentist for this type of restoration.

However, if the tooth has a crack below the gum line, you may need a root canal to treat the damaged pulp. Endodontists specialize in root canal treatment, preventing the fracture from spreading or even causing tooth loss. A dental crown completes the restoration.

If the tooth is severely damaged, an endodontist specialist may recommend endodontic surgery to save part of the tooth or an extraction. If the tooth needs extraction, your endodontist can discuss options for replacing the tooth, such as a dental implant.

What is a dental bridge used for?

A dental bridge is a very effective solution for filling the space left by a missing tooth. It is basically a single dental restoration that usually includes two dental crowns and a replacement tooth (pontic) that fills the empty space. The dental crowns are secured to adjacent teeth on either side of the empty space and provide support for the artificial tooth.

Will my dental crown or bridge be noticeable?

Modern dental materials and technology have dramatically improved the appearance of dental crowns and bridges. The porcelain used in today’s crowns and bridges can be color-matched to blend perfectly with the shade of your natural teeth. With proper placement, your dental restoration should be virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth.

Do I have to avoid certain foods with a dental crown?

Dental crowns are designed to be very durable and to function much like your own teeth. You need to use common sense, however, and avoid biting down directly on foods like hard candy or nuts. A broken crown is not just costly to replace, but you may also damage underlying healthy tooth structure.

Dental Crowns and Bridges Technology

Same-Day Crowns

If you have ever needed a crown, you know that there is a wait time between getting your tooth prepped and receiving your final restoration. We have eliminated that wait time for many patients by offering same-day dental crowns right here in our office. Using CAD/CAM technology and our in-office milling machine, you can receive your permanent restoration in a single visit.

This means no temporaries or waiting times for added convenience while not compromising strength and durability.

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