Crowns Bridges
Learn more about Crowns & Bridges
Crown (Cap) A crown is a covering on a tooth that restores it to its normal shape and size. A crown may be indicated for the following reasons:
- Broken or fractured teeth
- Decayed teeth
- Teeth with large or fractured fillings
- Teeth that have had a root canal done
- Cosmetic enhancement
A tooth that needs a crown usually requires two appointments. At the first appointment, the dentist will remove any decay, old filling material, or unsound tooth structure and prepare the tooth to the shape for your custom crown. The dentist will then take a mold (impression) of the prepared tooth and send it to a dental laboratory for the fabrication of your custom crown, which usually takes two weeks. While the dental laboratory is fabricating your crown, a temporary crown will be placed over the prepared tooth to maintain tooth position and gum health. At the second appointment, the dentist will remove the temporary crown, clean the prepared tooth, and cement the finalized custom crown on the tooth.
Bridges A dental bridge is a non-removable restoration that replaces one or more missing teeth. The bridge is anchored into place by crowning (placing caps) on one or more teeth on both sides of the missing tooth space. A dental bridge may be indicated for the following reasons:
- Fill the gap of a missing tooth
- Prevent teeth from drifting out of position
- Restore chewing ability
- Restore your smile
- Alternative to a removable partial denture
Similar to a crown, bridges typically take two appointments to complete. At the first appointment, the dentist will prepare the anchoring teeth on both sides of the gap. Then an accurate mold (impression) will be taken of the prepared teeth and the mold will be sent to the lab for the fabrication of the bridge. In the mean time, a temporary bridge will be fabricated and fitted to maintain the position of the prepared teeth. At the second appointment, the dentist will remove the temporary bridge, clean the anchoring teeth, and check the newly fabricated bridge in the mouth for proper fit and function. The bridge will then be permanently cemented to the anchoring teeth, restoring the gap to a healthy and functional state.
