Crowns are used to help strengthen and protect the tooth from future decay / fracture. Ultimately, crowns can improve the overall appearance of your smile while making your teeth more resistant to injury.
Crowns, also called caps, are natural-looking covers that fit snugly over teeth to conceal cracked, badly discolored, injured, or chipped teeth. Crowns minimize physical discomfort and provide support for damaged teeth. We use all porcelain crowns for best results.
Crowns and Bridges are essentially comfortable, life-like and natural appearing replacements for decayed or broken teeth. These prosthetic teeth are crafted to exactly microscopic specifications at our dental laboratory and permanently placed by our highly skilled doctors and staff.
If you want to fill the space left by a missing or removed tooth, a dental crown or bridge might be the solution you've been looking for.
When you are missing teeth, there are usually three options, which are the following: 1. Partial denture, 2. Implant, or 3. Bridge. The benefit of implants and bridges is that they are permanently in your mouth, and do not need removed like dentures. Bridges are attractive to patients because it does not require the surgical component of placing implants. At the first visit we prepare the teeth, and then at the second visit it’s permanently cemented.
There are several types of dental bridges to choose from:
- Cantilever bridges are used to replace a tooth that does not have supporting teeth on both sides of the affected area.
- Maryland bonded bridges include artificial teeth and gums, and are held in place by a metal frame.
- Traditional bridges are the most common, and literally bridge the gap of an empty tooth space by securing a false tooth using crowns on the teeth on either side.
The procedure requires two visits to our office, and involves first preparing the teeth that will support the bridge. We do this by shaping them to make room for the device and fitting them for crowns. Then, on the next visit, we will affix the dental bridge to the supporting teeth, check fit and color match. Then, you can go ahead and smile!