Crowns & Bridges

What are crowns and bridges?

Crowns and bridges are dental prosthetics that restore the health and appearance of your smile. A crown is an artificial tooth cap that your dentist permanently bonds to an existing tooth or dental implant, where it covers up the entirety of your tooth above the gumline. A bridge is a fake tooth (called a pontic) that’s attached to crowns on either side. 

The crowns are fitted to the teeth next to your missing tooth, holding the pontic in place as it literally bridges the empty space between your teeth. 

Both crowns and bridges are made from impressions of your smile, so they’re designed for the unique curves and contours of your mouth. Once they’re in place, they feel and function just like a regular tooth, giving your newly restored smile an unmatched sense of comfort. 

What do crowns and bridges do?

A bridge replaces a tooth that’s entirely missing from your smile. Missing teeth can have a negative impact on your overall oral health. Replacing them with a bridge has a number of benefits for your smile, like:

• Enhancing your ability to speak and chew
• Making the distribution of force in your bite more even
• Improving the appearance of your smile
• Preventing the rest of your teeth from shifting out of alignment

A crown, on the other hand, restores the strength and structure of a damaged or unsightly tooth. Your dentist might suggest that you get a crown in order to:

• Strengthen a tooth with too many large fillings
• Replace a misshapen or discolored tooth
• Prevent a cracked or decayed tooth from further damage

Your dentist also usually fits you with a crown after you’ve had a root canal treatment. The crown protects your tooth after your procedure and restores its structural integrity.

What’s involved in getting crowns and bridges?

Advantage Dental Care can fit you with a crown or bridge in two easy office visits.

During your first visit, your dentist prepares your teeth and takes an impression of your smile that an offsite lab uses to fabricate your crown or bridge. The preparation of your teeth involves shaving some of the enamel off your teeth to create space for the crown or bridge. With a crown, you reduce enamel from the tooth that’s going to receive the crown, while with a bridge, you reduce the enamel from the abutment teeth.

Your dentist fits you with a temporary crown or bridge to protect your teeth while you wait for the lab to make your permanent restoration. Once your permanent restoration is ready, you come back for a second appointment and your dentist seals it in place with dental cement.

Schedule your crown or bridge consultation with Advantage Dental Care today by calling the office or booking online.