Dental crowns and bridges use the support of natural teeth to help restore a damaged tooth or replace missing teeth with a permanent restoration that recovers the function and enhances the appearance of your smile.
How Do Dental Crowns Work?
Dental crowns act as caps to cover a tooth for a variety of reasons, including:
- Protect or restore a fractured tooth
- Replace a filling if there is not enough tooth remaining
- Attach bridgework
- Change the shape or color of a tooth
To attach a crown to an existing tooth, the tooth is decreased in size to make room for the crown. An impression of the tooth is taken and sent to a lab where the crown is fabricated. The dentist will ensure that the crown also matches the shade of your natural teeth. Once the crown is made, it is attached to the tooth with a strong adhesive. The crown will function and look just like your natural teeth. You can also care for the crown as you normally do with brushing and flossing.
How Do Dental Bridges Work?
Do you have a tooth that has been damaged due to decay, fracture or advanced gum disease? In the case that it can not be saved, your dentist might recommend replacing the tooth with a crown and bridge restoration. It’s important to replace missing teeth because leaving a gap in your smile can cause neighboring teeth to shift out of place which only creates further dental problems. It can cause uneven wear on those teeth as well as jaw misalignment. With a crown and bridge restoration, however, you can maintain your dental health as well as restore the look of your smile.
Benefits of Bridgework
To replace a missing tooth or multiple missing teeth, bridgework will fill the gap in your smile using a replacement tooth anchored on either side by crowns for teeth, called abutment teeth. The bridge is permanently attached, and creates a strong and durable fit. The benefits of dental bridges include:
- Ability to chew food as you would with natural teeth
- Restore clear speech which can be compromised due to a missing tooth
- Maintain your facial structure
- Regain a confident smile
- Keep your natural teeth from shifting out of position
Schedule an appointment with our office today to see if crowns and dental bridges are a good fit for your dental needs.
Real Patient, Real Results
This junior hockey player has suffered injuries to his teeth. He wanted to protect his teeth better and eliminate the gaps in the front. Dr. Bundy divised a treatment plan that included crowns to restore and strengthen the damaged teeth and veneers to get rid of the gaps in his smile. Now that treatment is complete, he smiles with full confidence knowing that his teeth look perfect. What an amazing outcome!