Dental Crowns and Bridges

What are Crowns and Bridges?

A crown or bridge is a restoration that covers, or “caps,” a tooth or multiple teeth to restore normal shape and size, strengthening and improving the appearance of a tooth. Dental crowns are necessary when a tooth is generally broken down and bonding won’t solve the problem. Sometimes a crown is needed when removing large old amalgams.

Crowns hold your tooth together

If you have a broken tooth or a heavily decayed tooth and more than ½ of it needs to be removed, a crown will be used. A crown protects the remaining tooth and in some cases seals the any small cracks so the damage doesn’t get worse.

What to Expect for a Crown Procedure

  1. If a crown is done on a front tooth then teeth whitening may be suggested prior to getting the crown. This is so we can get your teeth as white as you want them and match a nice porcelain color crown that you will be happy with for years to come!
  2. Once whitening is accomplished we then prepare the tooth for a crown. The procedure takes 2 visits.
  3. At the first visit, the tooth is reduced only enough so the crown can fit over it. All care is made to save as much healthy tooth structure as possible.
  4. Following this, an impression is taken and sent to one of our excellent labs that we partner with. We use a digital shade guide to ensure the most accurate color, so the crown blends flawlessly into your mouth looking great and no one notices.
  5. At the end of the visit a temporary crown is fitted over the tooth until the permanent crown is made in 2-3 weeks.
  6. On the second visit, Dr. Tom or one of the highly trained Expanded Function Dental Assistants (EFDA’s) will remove the temporary crown and seat the permanent crown onto the tooth.
  7. If all looks and feels good, Dr. Tom will bond the crown onto the tooth.
  8. In about an hour you will be eating and smiling like nothing was even done!

A Bridge to Replace a Missing Tooth

Dental Bridge Procedure

A bridge is a collection of crowns fused together that are used to replace a missing tooth. A bridge is an alternative to a dental implant. Although implants are the recommended treatment when replacing missing teeth, in some cases they cannot be done. Therefore, if an implant is not feasible than a dental bridge is the next best option. The bridge appointment takes two visits.

What to Expect for a Bridge Procedure

  1. The teeth on both sides of the space are prepared, just like a crown, and a porcelain tooth is used as a connection to fill in that space
  2. To prepare teeth for the dental bridge, they are reduced so crowns can fit over them and an impression is taken of all teeth at the same time.
  3. A temporary bridge is made and placed over the teeth until the permanent bridge comes back from the laboratory.
  4. On the following visit, Dr. Tom or one of the (EFDA’s) will remove the temporary bridge and cement the permanent bridge on the teeth.

Request an appointment today!