Crown and Bridge
Crown and Bridge Procedures
Crowns
Crowns are synthetic caps, usually made of a material like porcelain, placed on the top of a tooth.
Crowns are typically used to restore a tooth's function and appearance following a restorative procedure such as a root canal. When decay in a tooth has become so advanced that large portions of the tooth must be removed, crowns are often used to restore the tooth to its natural strength.
Crowns are also used to attach dental bridges, cover implants or prevent a cracked tooth from becoming worse. Crowns also serve an aesthetic use, and are applied when a discolored or stained tooth needs to be restored to its natural appearance. If you think you may be a candidate for a crown or bridge please call for consultation for a complimentary consultation with one of our highly trained doctors.
Crown and Bridge Procedures
A tooth must be reduced in size to accommodate a crown. An impression is made of the existing tooth and a temporary crown is placed on the prepared tooth. The impression is then sent to a special dental lab, which manufactures a custom-designed crown. Permanent crowns are cemented in place 2 weeks later.
Caring For Your Crowns
It is very important to floss in the area of the crown to avoid excess plaque or collection of debris around the restoration. Certain behaviors such as jaw clenching or bruxism (teeth grinding) can significantly shorten the life of a crown. Moreover, eating certain foods, chewing ice or hard candy can compromise the adhesion of the crown, or even damage the crown.
Bridges
Bridges are natural-looking dental appliances that can replace a section of missing teeth. Because they are custom-made, bridges are barely noticeable and can restore the natural contour of teeth as well as the proper bite relationship between upper and lower teeth.
Bridges are sometimes referred to as fixed partial dentures, because they are bonded to existing teeth or implants.
Porcelain, gold alloys or combinations of materials are usually used to make crowns and bridges.
We hope you find this web site useful and invite you to contact us with your questions at any time.
Call us at 208-377-2160
