Crowns & Bridges
Crowns
A crown is an artificial tooth, made of ceramic or gold, that covers a damaged tooth. Crowns are used to cover a tooth that has had a root canal or a fracture, or to restore a tooth that would require too large a filling. When ceramic is used, the color of the crown can be matched to the color of your natural teeth. A crown will be an improvement in function and appearance over the original, damaged tooth.
Bridges
While a crown is used to replace a single tooth, bridges are used to replace multiple missing teeth, filling gaps between existing teeth. If a gap between teeth is not filled with a bridge, undesireable movement among the remaining teeth can occur. Sometimes, bite problems, gum disease, and even TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders can result from missing teeth.
Just like crowns, bridges can be made from ceramic materials or gold; which material is best depends on several factors that our dentist will discuss with you. Ceramic bridges can be matched to the color of your natural teeth.
Once a bridge is made, it is cemented to natural teeth on either side of the gap. Call abutments, the natural teeth serve to anchor the bridge.
Making Crowns and Bridges
First, the teeth that the crown or bridge will fit over will be prepared by reducing their size. Then we will create an impression that will become a mold for the new crown or bridge. The impression will be used by a lab to create your ceramic or gold crown or bridge.
Our dentist will create a temporary crown or bridge to cover the prepared teeth while we wait for the dental lab to finish, usually one to two weeks. When the new crown or bridge is ready, our dentist will remove the temporary crown or bridge and cement the new one in place over your prepared teeth.
