Crown & Bridges

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Crowns and Bridges

Crowns are a type of dental restoration which, when cemented into place, fully cup over the tooth.

In comparison, fillings are dental restorations that fill in or cover over just a portion of a tooth. Since dental crowns encase the entire visible aspect of a tooth, a dental crown in effect becomes the tooth's new outer surface.

Crowns can be made out of porcelain, metal (a gold or other metal), or a combination of both.

Dental crowns are recommended for a variety of reasons but, in general, most of these reasons will usually fall within one of the following basic categories:

  • To restore a tooth to its original shape.
  • To strengthen a tooth.
  • To improve the cosmetic appearance of a tooth
Dental Bridges

Dental bridges literally bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth.

A bridge is made up of two crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap and a false tooth/teeth in between. These teeth can be made from gold, alloys, white porcelain or a combination of these materials. Either natural teeth or implants can support dental bridges.

Among the benefits of dental bridges are:

  • Restore your smile
  • Restore your ability to properly chew and speak
  • Maintain the shape of your face
  • Distribute the forces in your bite properly by replacing missing teeth
  • Prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position

Indirect restorations may require two or more visits. They include inlays , onlays and composite veneers. During the first visit , the dentist prepares the tooth and makes an impression . This impression is sent to a dental laboratory , which creates the dental restoration (filling). At the next appointment , the dentist cements the restoration to the prepared tooth and adjusts it.