What are Dental Crowns and bridges?

Dental crowns and bridges are common restorative dental procedures used to repair damaged teeth or replace missing ones. Here's a detailed look at each:

Dental Crowns

Definition: A dental crown is a cap placed over a damaged, decayed, or cracked tooth. It restores the tooth's shape, size, strength, and appearance.

Purpose:

To protect a weak tooth from breaking.To hold together parts of a cracked tooth.To restore an already broken tooth or a tooth that has been severely worn down.To cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn't a lot of tooth left.To hold a dental bridge in place.To cover misshapen or severely discolored teeth.To cover a dental implant.For cosmetic modification.

Materials:

Metal: Such as gold or a metal alloy. These are durable and withstand biting and chewing forces well.Porcelain-fused-to-metal: These can be color-matched to your adjacent teeth but have more wear and tear over time.All-ceramic or all-porcelain: These provide the best natural color match and are suitable for people with metal allergies.Resin: These are less expensive but wear down over time and are more prone to fractures.Dental Bridges

Definition: A dental bridge is a fixed dental restoration used to replace one or more missing teeth by joining an artificial tooth permanently to adjacent teeth or dental implants.

Purpose:

To restore your smile.To restore the ability to properly chew and speak.To maintain the shape of your face.To distribute the forces in your bite properly by replacing missing teeth.To prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position.

Types:

Traditional Bridges: These involve creating a crown for the tooth or implant on either side of the missing tooth, with a pontic (false tooth) in between.Cantilever Bridges: These are used when there are adjacent teeth on only one side of the missing tooth or teeth.Maryland Bonded Bridges: These have porcelain or metal wings on each side of the bridge bonded to the existing teeth.Implant-Supported Bridges: These are used when you have more than one tooth missing. Instead of being supported by crowns or frameworks, these bridges are supported by dental implants.

Materials:

Same as crowns: metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal, all-ceramic, or all-resin, depending on the specific requirements and location in the mouth.Procedure:

For Crowns:

Preparation: The dentist removes part of the tooth's structure to make room for the crown.Impression: An impression of the tooth is taken to create a custom crown.Temporary Crown: A temporary crown is placed until the permanent crown is ready.Fitting: The permanent crown is cemented onto the prepared tooth.

For Bridges:

Preparation: Teeth adjacent to the gap are prepared by removing a portion of enamel.Impression: An impression is made to create the bridge.Temporary Bridge: A temporary bridge may be placed.Fitting: The final bridge is placed and adjusted for fit and comfort, then permanently cemented.

Both crowns and bridges require good oral hygiene practices to ensure their longevity. Regular dental check-ups and professional cleanings are also essential to maintain the health of these restorations and the surrounding teeth and gums.

At , we understand the importance of a confident smile and a healthy mouth. That's why we offer comprehensive restorative dentistry services, including dental crowns and bridges, to address various dental concerns. Whether you need to restore a damaged tooth, improve your smile's appearance, or protect weak teeth, our expert team is here to provide the care you need.