Crowns & Bridges

Extensively damaged teeth from decay, cracks, or wear can lead to many problems such as:

• Biting problems

• Chewing difficulties

• Sensitivity to hot and cold

• Pain in your teeth and jaw

• Self-consciousness about your smile

Dental Crowns

When a tooth is damaged to a larger extent by either decay, cracks, or wear, then often a crown is recommended to add strength and back to your tooth.

Crowns are an artificial “shield” that is essentially a “cap” over your tooth. The crown is very strong and made to look like a natural tooth. After the decay or damage is removed and rebuilt, the final crown is cemented over your existing tooth. The main purpose of a dental crown is to protect your teeth from bite forces and is utilized when a tooth is damaged from extensive decay, cracks, or excessive wear.

Dental Bridges

When a tooth is lost, it is very important to replace the empty space where the tooth was present. This is important because missing teeth can often lead to many problems such as difficulty chewing shifting of remaining teeth, and even TMJ problems.

A dental bride is a fixed restoration used to “bridge” the missing space when a tooth is lost. Bridges are linked by crowning the teeth adjacent to where the tooth was lost and linking them to a “pontic” crown that fills the missing space. Bridges are very strong and made to look like natural teeth.

The Procedure

Preparing and delivering a crown or bridge will typically take two visits. On the first visit, the dentist will comfortably numb the tooth, then remove any existing filling, decay or cracks. The tooth will be rebuilt with safe materials and shaped to make room for the new crown or bridge. A digital scan or impression is then taken of the tooth and sent to a dental lab for custom fabrication. The assistant will then make you a “temporary” crown or bridge to hold the space and allow for chewing until your second visit. On your second visit, the temporary is gently removed and your final crown or bridge will be fitted and cemented into place by the dentist to make sure your bite feels natural. It’s as easy as that!!