Cosmetic Dentistry - Crowns and Bridges

Crown and Bridge Treatment

If you are faced with tooth loss, crown and bridge treatment may be the best option for you. A bridge is a custom-made device anchored to neighboring natural teeth, which replaced one or more missing teeth; When a lost tooth is replaced with bridgework, the teeth on either side of the missing one are prepared as crowns to hold the bridge in place.


Before a Bridge	After a Bridge

Bridges, sometimes referred to as a fixed partial denture, look natural and literally bridge the gap where one or more teeth may have been. Fixed bridges appear and function similar to natural teeth and remain in the mouth at all times. They can only be removed by your dentist.

Benefit of Crown and Bridge Treatment

»	Restores lost teeth and supports remaining teeth
»	Restores and maintains your natural bite
»	Prevents undue stress on natural teeth
»	Improves your speech, smile and chewing ability
»	Helps prevent further dental decay and gum disease
»	Prevents tilting and shifting of adjacent teeth

Crowns

All About Crowns

A crown, sometimes referred to as a “cap”, is an artificial covering cemented over an existing tooth that has been specially prepared for you (somewhat like a thimble over your finger).


Before Crowns	After Crowns

Crowns help to strengthen and restore or improve the appearance of your natural teeth. In addition to strengthening a tooth to accommodate the attachment of a bridge, crowns serve many functions. One of the most common is to support the tooth when there is no longer sufficient tooth structure left to place a filling.

Crowns and bridges are most often made of superior materials such as semi-precious or precious metals, porcelain or a combination of metal fused to porcelain.

Crown and Bridge Procedure

Once it is determined you need crown and bridgework, a series of appointments will be scheduled.

At the first appointment:

»	A complete oral exam, including X-rays will be done
»	The area to be treated will be numbed by injection
»	The tooth will be shaped so the crown can fit over it
»	An impression will be made of the area and a temporary crown will be placed on the tooth. (A dental laboratory will use these impressions as a model to create the bridge, false tooth or crown).
»	Your teeth are then fitted with a temporary crown or bridge to protect your teeth until the next appointment.

At the second appointment:

»	Any necessary adjustments before cementing it permanently will be made
»	Color matching is completed so that the bridge looks natural
»	Your chewing and biting accuracy will be checked, while ensuring the bridge conforms to the surrounding tissue.

It is common for your teeth to be mildly sensitive to extreme temperatures for a few weeks after the procedure.

Caring For Bridges

Good oral hygiene can help your bridge last a long time. If you do not properly control the build up of food debris and plaque, your teeth can become infected, resulting in decay and the potential loss of your bridge. With proper care, a bridge can last eight to ten years, or longer. The difference between proper and improper care generally determines the success of the dental bridge.

Proper care tips include:

»	Brush the surfaces and sides of your bridge like you do your natural teeth with fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled brush after each meal
»	Floss at least once daily. Special thick floss can help keep your bridge clean
»	Use an interdental brush to clean between large spaces
»	Have your teeth cleaned by your dental hygienist every three (3) months
»	Avoid sticky foods like caramel, gum and taffy and crunchy foods like hard candy
»	Do not chew ice cubes

Bridgework is a long-term solution that can help prevent a cycle of problems that can occur with a missing tooth. Whether it’s due to decay, gum disease, injury or accident, loosing a tooth can cause many serious problems for your neighboring natural teeth.

Usually, in just two appointments we can restore your smile, enhance your appearance and improve your overall dental health.

To find out more about crown and bridgework, contact one of our offices to speak with our knowledgeable staff!

We will be adding articles relating to Cosmetic Dentistry - Crowns / Bridges here shortly. Please check back soon.

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