Dental crowns and bridges can restore your smile. These dental restorations can solve a variety of dental problems, including broken, cracked and discolored teeth, as well as gaps between teeth and even missing teeth.
About Dental Crowns
A dental crown is a permanent cap that fits over the top of a damaged or discolored tooth to restore the appearance and function of that tooth. Dental crowns are often necessary to protect a tooth after root canal or trauma that has weakened the tooth. A crown can also hold a broken tooth together to prevent it from breaking any further. In short, dental crowns reinforce and protect the visible crown of the tooth and the roots that support it.
Molded from a variety of materials, including ceramics, porcelain-and-metal, gold and resin, crowns duplicate the look and feel of natural teeth. Because they mimic the look and color of natural tooth enamel, crowns are often indistinguishable from your natural teeth.
About Dental Bridges
As their name implies, dental bridges bridge the gap left behind by one or more missing teeth. Dental bridges prevent remaining teeth from shifting into these gaps; shifting teeth can cause cosmetic issues and can even affect your bite.
There are several types of dental bridges. Each supports replacement teeth in different ways.
Conventional fixed bridges
Traditional dental bridges consist of at least two abutment crowns cemented onto the remaining teeth on each side of the gap, and at least one false tooth to fill in the gap. The abutment teeth support the replacement teeth, known as pontics. The procedure requires filing down the abutment teeth to accommodate the space needed by the crowns.
Cantilever bridges
Cantilever bridges are like traditional dental bridges, except that the pontic requires the support of only one abutment rather than two. Dentists may recommend cantilever bridges in cases where there is only one natural tooth next to the gap.
Resin-bonded bridges
Also known as Maryland bridges, resin-bonded bridges do not require extensive modification to prepare abutment teeth. Instead, the dentist uses a strong resin to bond the pontic to the neighboring teeth.
Implant-supported bridges
Rather than being supported by the neighboring abutment teeth, these bridges are supported by a titanium rod surgically implanted into the jawbone.
For more information about dental crowns and bridges, contact Friends and Family Dental.
