Crown & Bridge
Aesthetic
Enhancements: Crowns & Bridges?
Crowns (or caps) are dental restorations that
are placed over a tooth when conservative restorations are insufficient
to restore form and function.
A bridge serves to replace a missing
tooth or teeth. One type of bridge consists of crowns placed on either
side of the missing tooth to connect the replacement tooth or teeth to
them.
Another type of bridge consists of the
replacement tooth attached to the adjacent teeth with wing-like
appendages. Bridges can also be supported by dental implants.
Crowns and bridges can be made entirely
of tooth-colored material, metal, or a combination to provide optimal
aesthetics. Some metal-free crowns and bridges incorporate
stress-bearing materials to enhance their strength and wear-resistance.
Is a Crown Right For Me?
Crowns address aesthetic needs, restore tooth
function, and enhance the overall health of your mouth. In cases where
teeth have large broken down fillings, a crown can protect and preserve
the remaining natural tooth. To enhance your smile a metal-free, tooth
colored crown can also replace an older metal/porcelain crown.
Following root canal therapy, a crown is typically placed over the
remaining tooth structure to preserve aesthetic and tooth function.
Is a Bridge Right For
Me?
In cases where teeth are missing, a bridge
prevents the remaining natural teeth from shifting so that dental
health and facial aesthetics are not compromised. Bridges may also
provide a permanent, non-removable alternative to removable partial or
full dentures. Whether supported by natural teeth or implants, bridges
can offer life-like aesthetics and stable chewing surfaces. The can be
easily maintained by brushing with modified brushing and flossing.
What Happens at the
First Appointment?
With both crowns and bridges, the dentist
needs to shape the teeth to provide stable support and precise fit of
the final restoration. Following tooth preparation, impressions are
taken of the teeth, and a replica of your mouth is created for the
dental laboratory to make the restoration. You and your dentist with
carefully discuss the color, shape, and size of the crown(s) or
bridge(s). A temporary restoration is secured to protect the prepared
teeth and maintain the precise space left by the tooth until the new
restoration is fabricated.
If an implant-supported crown or bridges is the best option,
the dentist evaluates the patient's health and suitability for the
implant placement. The dentist may also proceed with surgical planning
or refer the patient to a specialist trained in implant surgery. (For
details, see the ProActive Care brochure on Implants.)
What Happened at the
Next Appointment?
When the crown or bridge is fabricated, the
dentist removes the patient's temporary restoration, and tries on the
crown or bridges to verify fit and patient approval. Once the
restoration is adjusted and approved, the dentist uses luting cement or
an adhesive bonding agent to permanently secure the final restoration.
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