Crowns and bridges are effective methods for treating severely damaged or missing teeth. Restore your bite and enhance your appearance with high-quality natural-looking dental crowns and bridges from A Dental Place.
What is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a tooth-colored cap covering the tooth’s entire surface visible above the gum line. Dental crowns improve the structural integrity of your teeth, protecting them from further damage. Dental crowns are used to address oral health issues such as:
- Broken teeth
- Severe chips
- Intrinsic tooth discoloration
- Misshapen teeth
- Pegged teeth
- To cover and support a tooth with a large filling
- To cap a tooth after a root canal treatment
- To complete a dental implant procedure
Dental crowns are made from several materials, including porcelain, porcelain-fused-to-metal, zirconia ceramic, and gold alloy. The suitable materials for your crown depend on the location of the tooth and the severity of the damage.
The dental crown procedure
At A Dental Place, we offer custom-made crowns that are color-matched to your natural tooth shade. After preparing and shaping the damaged tooth, we take dental impressions and create a mold. We send the mold to an off-site dental lab where experienced technicians craft your dental crowns. When your crown is ready, your dentist bonds the tooth in place.
What is a Bridge?
If you have one or several consecutive missing teeth or a severely damaged tooth that can’t be saved, your dentist may prescribe a dental bridge. A dental bridge fills the gap in your smile, restoring chewing and speaking function and enhancing your appearance.
A dental bridge is a restorative treatment consisting of one or more false teeth supported by two dental crowns placed over the healthy teeth on either side of the gap. There are several types of dental bridges used to restore your smile.
- A traditional bridge features two dental crowns and up to four pontics (false teeth).
- A cantilever bridge only uses one healthy abutment tooth to support the pontic. This is typically used for patients who only have teeth on one side of the gap.
- A Maryland bridge, also called a resin-bonded bridge, is suitable for restoring your front teeth. However, these bridges use a metal or porcelain framework bonded to the abutment teeth rather than dental crowns.
- An implant-supported bridge uses a titanium dental implant post to secure the bridge in place.
The dental bridge procedure
Before you can be fitted for a bridge, your dentist must prepare your abutment teeth. The teeth on either side of the gap are shaped to accommodate the dental crowns. Then, your dentist makes impressions of the site to send to the dental lab where your bridge is fabricated. When the bridge is ready, it is cemented in place.
Restore Your Smile at A Dental Place
Dental crowns and bridges can restore the look and function of your smile. To find out which procedure is correct for you, contact the experienced dental team at A Dental Place. We offer the latest technology and materials to ensure your dental restorations are durable and long-lasting.
Call A Dental Place at (630) 620-7300 or use our online form to schedule your dental crown or bridge appointment.