Crowns and Bridges

Dental crowns, referred to as “caps”, preserve the functionality of damaged teeth. Crowns may be used to protect a cracked tooth, encase a tooth that has had root canal treatment, restore functionality to a tooth with excessive decay, or beautify a worn or misaligned tooth. Dental crowns of today can satisfy your functional and esthetic needs. The purpose of a dental crown is to encase a needy tooth with a custom-designed material.

During the crown procedure, your dentist prepares the tooth and makes a molded impression of the tooth to send to a dental laboratory. A fitted, temporary crown is created during this visit to temporarily protect the tooth while the final restoration is being made in the dental laboratory. The new crown is cemented at a later visit.

Dental bridges are very much like crowns. It is the same process used to bridge a gap between two teeth due to a missing tooth. One or more missing teeth can adversely affect the appearance and functionality of your smile. Missing teeth can cause a change in occlusion (bite), shifting of the teeth, temporomandibular joint disorder, speech impediments, an increased risk for periodontal disease and a greater chance of tooth decay. The procedure for bridges is the same as that for crowns. While a dental laboratory is fabricating your porcelain bridge, you will be fitted with a temporary bridge that will serve to protect your teeth and maintain the space until your porcelain bridge is ready to be cemented.

back to cosmetic dentistry