Dental Crowns and Dental Bridges Near You

Restorative dentistry is the term dental professionals use to explain how they replace missing or affected teeth. Fillings, crowns (“caps”), bridges, and implants are common restorative procedures. The goal is to bring back your natural smile and prevent future oral health issues. Restorative procedures help patients with keeping their teeth properly aligned, preventing plaque buildup, and boosting their appearance and self-esteem.

Dental Crowns

The terms dental crowns and caps are synonymous. If dental decay, cracked fillings, root canals, clenching or grinding the teeth have caused extensive damage to the underlying tooth structure a dental filling may not be a sufficient restoration. The only way to completely restore the cosmetic appearance and function of this tooth is often full coverage with a dental crown. The good news is that a completed dental crown looks and feels like a natural tooth.

In addition to restoring a single natural tooth, crowns can be used in other situations including being the supporting ends of dental bridge, covering dental implants, or as coverage for a cracked tooth to prevent further breakdown. A crown may also be indicated when a discolored or stained tooth needs to be restored to its natural appearance. Crowns are made from a variety of different materials such as porcelain, gold, acrylic resin, or a mix of these materials. The treatment plan for a crown involves:

1. Numbing your tooth to remove any decay
2. Sculpturing your tooth to provide an ideal fit for a dental crown
3. Making an impression of your teeth in order to create a custom-made crown (usually takes 1-2-weeks)
4. Making a temporary crown out of acrylic resin and fitting it onto your affected tooth
5. Applying the custom-made crown by removing the temporary crown
6. After ensuring the crown has the proper look and fit, our dentist cements it into place

The process typically involves 2 visits over a 2 week period. After the procedure, maintaining proper dental hygiene—such as daily brushing and flossing—is essential to keep your teeth, gums, and crowns healthy and free of bacteria. This routine also helps prevent gum disease. With the right care, your crowns can last a lifetime.

Dental Bridges

A dental bridge is a permanent appliance that replaces a missing tooth or missing teeth, and are an alternative to partial dentures. Dental bridges are made up of several pieces that are fused together to fit into the open space where your tooth or teeth used to be. They serve both practical and aesthetic purposes, enabling you to eat and speak as well as restoring your smile.

The bridge itself can be made of several different types of material, including gold, alloys, or porcelain. When replacing a front tooth, porcelain is most often the material of choice because it can be matched to your natural tooth color.

The artificial teeth used in dental bridges are called pontics. You will have a pontic for each missing tooth, created to be close in shape and size to the missing one(s). Pontics are anchored to a tooth or teeth next to the gap (called abutment teeth) or to a dental implant.