Crowns and Bridges

Bridges

Bridges are natural-looking dental appliances that can replace a missing tooth/teeth. Because they are custom-made, bridges are highly aesthetic and can restore the contour of teeth, including proper bite relationship between upper and lower teeth.

Bridges are sometimes referred to as fixed partial dentures, because they are semi-permanent and are bonded to existing teeth or implants. There are several types of fixed dental bridges (cannot be removed, except by your dentist), including: conventional fixed bridges, cantilever bridges and resin-bonded bridges.  

Porcelain, ceramic, gold and metal alloys are usually used to make bridge appliances.  

Crowns

Crowns are synthetic caps, usually made out of porcelain or ceramic, and 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.

Crowns are also used to attach bridges, cover implants, prevent a cracked tooth from becoming worse, or protect an existing filling that is in jeopardy of becoming loose or dislocated. Crowns also serve an aesthetic use, and are applied when a discolored or stained tooth needs to be restored to its natural appearance. 

Procedures

A tooth must usually be reduced in size to accommodate a crown. An impression is then made from the existing tooth and sent to a special lab, which manufactures a custom-designed crown.  The impression is sent to a special lab, which manufactures a custom-designed crown. In most cases, a temporary crown is applied until the permanent crown is ready. Permanent crowns are cemented or bonded in place.

Crowns are sometimes confused with veneers, but they are quite different. Veneers are typically applied only to relatively small areas. 

Caring For Your Crowns

With proper care, a good quality crown could last up to eight years or longer. 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) significantly shorten the life of a crown. Moreover, eating brittle foods, ice or hard candy can compromise the adhesion of the crown, or even damage the crown.

background image

Office Hours

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

Closed

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed