CROWNS
A crown (often called a cap) is an artificial cover that is placed on an individual tooth (somewhat like a
thimble over your finger) to restore a decayed or damaged tooth to its normal shape and size.
This procedure is often necessary when no tooth structure is left to place a filling. It is also useful for protecting teeth that are cracked or broken. A crown can also be used to change a tooth's shape, correct a bite or cosmetic problem, or replace existing broken or poor-fitting crowns. A crown may be made of gold, other metals, or porcelain, making them durable and strong, so replacements are needed less often.
BRIDGES
Fixed bridges, quite simply, replace missing teeth to make chewing easier, improve appearance, and keep your teeth, gum, and jaws healthy.
Bridges consist of one or more replacement teeth attached to the natural teeth next to them. They are made of various metals, porcelain, or a combination of the two.
Each upper tooth contacts the corresponding lower tooth, allowing for a well-balanced chewing function. Losing a tooth quickly destroys this balance. Just one missing tooth can cause the position of other teeth to change- some teeth may tilt forward, or opposing teeth may move down.
A missing tooth can also create spaces between your teeth, changing your bite and smile. These shifting, drifting, and titling teeth can cause a variety of problems, such as difficult or painful chewing (due to changes in your muscles, bones, and joints), or abnormal decay areas (due to teeth that are hard to reach to keep clean) which accelerate periodontal (gum)disease.
Generally, if the missing tooth is not replaced, more teeth may eventually be lost due to the improper forces exerted during chewing.
It will take two or more dental visits to prepare and fit our bridge. First your dentist reshapes the support teeth that will hold the crowns of your fixed bridge.
Then an intra oral scan of the prepared tooth, and of the surrounding and opposing teeth, is taken. If appearance counts, your dentist selects a shade from a guide to make sure the replacement teeth match the shade of your natural teeth.
To protect your prepared teeth while the fixed bridge is being made, your dentist may fit a temporary bridge that is held in place by temporary cement.
With our in-house milling system, we are able to fabricate your crowns and bridges right on site and can be delivered that same day a couple hours later.
Be careful when cleaning your teeth or eating, because your temporary bridge can loosen.
Let your dentist know immediately if the temporary bridge comes off or does loosen.