Crowns and Bridges
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Dental Crowns
A crown, also known as a cap, is a protective restoration that covers and protects a compromised tooth. Crowns are fabricated to have a natural appearance and feel.
There are a number of reasons why we may recommend a crown.
A crown may be recommended for a tooth that is at risk of breaking either due to having a very large filling, root canal treatment or cracks starting to form in the enamel.
All of these conditions put a tooth at risk of fracturing/breaking.
Sometimes when a tooth breaks, we are not able to fix it. When we see signs of cracking or breakdown of large fillings, it is best act preventatively and prevent a break in the tooth that could result in loss of the tooth.
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Unfortunately, we cannot predict all instances of a tooth fracturing and sometimes a tooth breaks unexpectedly.
Therefore, a crown may also be recommended for a tooth that has already broken or fractured to restore it to its natural shape.​
Crowns also may be recommended for a condition called cracked tooth syndrome. A stress fracture that is starting to split a tooth apart can result in symptoms such as pain when biting or cold sensitivity. A crown helps hold the fractured tooth together, protecting it from cracking further.​
Finally, crowns may also be recommended to improve the appearance of teeth due to discoloration, malformed enamel, or large, stained restorations.
Dental Bridges
Dental bridges are fixed restorations that replace a missing tooth or multiple missing teeth. A bridge is supported by at least two teeth on either side of the missing tooth/teeth.
A dental bridge is a single unit that consists of crowns that fit over the support teeth on either side of the space and replacement teeth in between the crowns. These replacement teeth “bridge the gap” of the missing teeth. A bridge is cemented in place and is not removable.
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A dental bridge is a good option for tooth replacement in cases where patients have one to a few missing teeth with support teeth on either side. Call us today to see what tooth replacement option is right for you!
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