Crowns
To fix the appearance of a decayed, damaged or cracked tooth, the perfect solution is a crown. A crown is a permanent covering that fits over the original tooth that is flawed. Crowns are made of a variety of different materials such as porcelain, gold, acrylic resin or a mix of these materials. However, for the most natural appearance, porcelain crowns are generally used.
The treatment plan for a patient receiving a crown involves:
- Numb the tooth to remove the decay in or around it.
- Re-sculpt the tooth to provide an ideal fit for the crown.
- Make an impression of your teeth in order to create a custom-made crown (usually takes three weeks).
- Make 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.
- Apply 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 crown can last a lifetime.
Bridges
A bridge is a dental device that fills a space that a tooth previously occupied. This is the ideal aesthetic solution for people who have lost teeth and still want a full, beautiful smile. A bridge may be necessary to:
- Safeguard the integrity of existing teeth and help maintain a healthy, vibrant smile.
- Prevent shifting of the teeth. This can also lead to bite problems, jaw problems and/or resultant periodontal disease.
- Allow better chewing of food.
- Restore or maintian a beautiful smile
- Support the muscles of the face and prevent a "collapsed" or "caved in" look .
Typically a fixed bridge consists of a filler tooth that is attached to two crowns, which fit over the existing teeth and hold the bridge in place. Fixed bridges can vary in length from the basic three tooth bridge - two anchor crowns with a filler or false tooth in the middle - to a bridge that restores up to fourteen teeth.
Our goal is always to fabricate crowns and bridges that look and feel natural. Our goal is that only you and your dentist know whether your teeth are natural, crowned, or part of a fixed bridge!