Crowns/Bridges
Crowns
A crown is a permanent covering that fits over an original tooth that is either decayed, damaged or cracked. Crowns are made of a variety of different materials such as porcelain, gold, acrylic resin or a mix of these materials. Porcelain generally has the most natural appearance, although it is often less durable.
The treatment plan for a patient receiving a crown involves:
- Numbing the tooth to remove the decay in or around it.
- Re-sculpturing the tooth to provide an ideal fit for the crown.
- Making an impression of your teeth in order to create a custom-made crown (usually takes one to two weeks).
- Making a temporary crown out of acrylic resin and fitting it onto the tooth during the interim period when the permanent custom-made crown is being created.
- Applying the permanent crown (when received from the lab) by removing the temporary crown and fitting the permanent one onto the tooth.
- After ensuring that the crown has the proper look and fit, the dentist cements it into place.
This process generally consists of a minimum of 2-3 visits over a three to four week period.
Once the procedure is completed, proper dental hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing, is required to maintain healthy, bacteria-free teeth, gums and crowns. This helps in the prevention of gum disease. Given proper care, your crowns can last a lifetime.
Crowns
When a tooth is fractured or has large, old fillings, it might need to be replaced with a crown. A crown is a custom-made cap that completely covers an original tooth.
The tooth will be numbed using a local anesthetic.
The doctor removes the decay and re-sculpts the tooth so that the crown can be placed on top of it.
The doctor will take an impression of the new shape of the tooth. That impression will be sent to a lab, where the permanent crown will be custom-made.
A temporary crown is made out of acrylic resin and fitted on the tooth during the interim period.
At the next appointment, the doctor will remove the temporary crown and fit the custom crown onto the tooth. After ensuring that the custom crown has the proper look and fit, the doctor will cement it into place.
Bridges
A bridge is a dental device that fills a space that a tooth previously occupied. A bridge may be necessary to prevent:
- Shifting of the teeth that can lead to bite problems (occlusion) and/or jaw problems and resultant periodontal disease.
- Bridges safeguard the integrity of existing teeth and help maintain a healthy, vibrant smile.