Description

Dental Crowns & Bridges: Reclaim Your Smile with Strength and Beauty

Are you struggling with a damaged tooth, a noticeable gap, or a smile that no longer reflects your confidence? Dental Crowns and Bridges are time-tested, highly effective restorative solutions designed to bring back the strength, function, and natural beauty of your teeth.

What are Dental Crowns?

A dental crown, often referred to as a "cap," is a custom-made restoration that completely covers a damaged or decayed tooth above the gum line. It is meticulously crafted to restore the tooth's original size, shape, strength, and appearance, providing robust protection against further damage.

When is a Dental Crown Recommended?

• Protect a weak tooth: Prevent a cracked tooth from breaking or hold together parts of a severely fractured tooth.
• Restore a broken tooth: Repair a tooth that has been severely worn down.
• Cover and support a tooth with a large filling: Especially when there isn't much tooth structure remaining.
• Cover a dental implant: Serve as the visible, functional tooth replacement.
• Protect a tooth after a root canal procedure: Root canal-treated teeth can become brittle and require a crown for long-term stability.
• Cosmetic modification: Cover discolored or poorly shaped teeth to improve aesthetics.

Materials for Dental Crowns:

We offer a range of high-quality materials to suit your specific needs, aesthetic preferences, and budget:

• Porcelain/Ceramic: Highly aesthetic, ideal for front teeth due to their natural appearance and translucency.
• Zirconia: Extremely strong and durable, offering excellent aesthetics, making them suitable for both front and back teeth.
• Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM): Combines the strength of a metal base with the natural look of porcelain, offering a good balance of durability and aesthetics.
• Gold Alloys: Highly biocompatible and durable, often chosen for back teeth where strength and resistance to wear are paramount.
• Base Metal Alloys: Very strong and corrosion-resistant, but typically used for molars due to their darker appearance.

What are Dental Bridges?

A dental bridge is a fixed prosthetic device designed to replace one or more missing teeth. It "bridges" the gap created by missing teeth, using the adjacent natural teeth (or dental implants) as anchors.

When is a Dental Bridge Recommended?

• Replace one or more missing teeth: Restore chewing ability and speech.
• Maintain facial structure: Prevent changes in facial shape due to missing teeth.
• Prevent remaining teeth from shifting: Stop adjacent teeth from drifting into the empty space, which can lead to bite problems and jaw issues.
• Improve aesthetics: Fill embarrassing gaps in your smile.
• Upgrade from a removable partial denture: Provide a more stable and permanent solution.

Types of Dental Bridges:

• Traditional Bridges: The most common type, consisting of one or more artificial teeth (pontics) held in place by dental crowns cemented onto the natural teeth on either side of the gap.
• Cantilever Bridges: Used when there are adjacent teeth on only one side of the missing tooth/teeth.
• Maryland Bonded Bridges: Consist of a pontic with metal or porcelain "wings" on either side. These wings are bonded to the back of your existing teeth, requiring less tooth preparation.
• Implant-Supported Bridges: For cases with multiple missing teeth, an implant-supported bridge anchors to dental implants instead of natural teeth, offering superior stability and bone preservation.

Key Features & Benefits of Crowns & Bridges:

• Natural Appearance: Custom-matched to the shade, shape, and size of your existing teeth for a seamless and beautiful smile.
• Enhanced Functionality: Restore your ability to chew, speak, and bite effectively and comfortably.
• Durable & Long-Lasting: Made from high-quality, biocompatible materials designed to withstand daily wear and tear for many years with proper care.
• Improved Oral Health: Crowns protect compromised teeth, while bridges prevent remaining teeth from shifting, preserving your overall bite and jaw health.
• Boosted Confidence: A complete and healthy smile can significantly improve your self-esteem and quality of life.
• Customized Fit: Each crown and bridge is custom-fabricated in a dental lab based on precise impressions or digital scans of your mouth, ensuring optimal fit and comfort.

The Treatment Process: What to Expect

The placement of a crown or bridge typically involves two appointments:

1. Initial Consultation & Preparation:
   • We will conduct a thorough examination, including X-rays, to assess your oral health and determine the best treatment plan.
   • For a crown, the tooth will be prepared by carefully shaping it to allow the crown to fit over it.
   • For a bridge, the adjacent "abutment" teeth will be prepared.
   • Precise impressions or digital scans of your teeth will be taken to send to a dental laboratory.
   • A temporary crown or bridge will be placed to protect your prepared teeth while your permanent restoration is being crafted.
2. Placement of Permanent Restoration:
   • Once your custom crown or bridge arrives from the dental lab (typically 1-2 weeks), the temporary restoration will be removed.
   • We will try in the permanent crown or bridge to ensure a perfect fit, comfortable bite, and aesthetic match.
   • Once you and the dentist are satisfied, the restoration will be permanently cemented into place.

Care & Maintenance for Longevity

With proper care, your dental crowns and bridges can last for 10-15 years or even longer.

• Practice Excellent Oral Hygiene: Brush twice daily and floss at least once a day, paying special attention to the margins of crowns and the area under bridge pontics.
• Regular Dental Check-ups: Maintain your routine dental visits for professional cleanings and examinations.
• Avoid Hard & Sticky Foods: Minimize chewing on extremely hard candies, ice, or sticky caramels that could potentially damage your restoration.
• Address Bruxism: If you grind or clench your teeth (bruxism), a nightguard may be recommended to protect your crowns and bridges.

Ready to Transform Your Smile?

Don't let damaged or missing teeth hold you back any longer. Dental Crowns and Bridges offer durable, aesthetic, and long-lasting solutions to restore your oral health and rejuvenate your smile.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation and discover how crowns and bridges can benefit you!