Dental Crowns and Bridges

Dental Crowns

A cavity robs your tooth of some of its strength because part of it must be drilled away to remove the decay and make room for a filling. When you chew, a tremendous amount of force is brought against the tooth and sometimes there is not enough healthy tooth structure remaining to accommodate a filling and support the pressure of chewing, leaving the tooth at risk of breaking apart.

Or it may be that you have suffered endodontic (tooth root and nerve) problems that have caused your tooth to deteriorate and require treatment leaving it less strong than when it was healthy.

In cases such as these, our doctors can place a dental crown to return the strength and function of your natural tooth along with its natural appearance.

For crown placement,the doctor will remove decay as well as material from any previous fillings: (for endodontically treated teeth, the root will also be removed). The crown will be attached to the post using a strong adhesive and will then sit over the remaining tooth structure, taking the place of the enamel. Because it surrounds the tooth, whatever is left of your tooth's structure will be protected and you will enjoy a strong, new biting surface.

Best of all, a crown is a great aesthetic choice because it will be created to perfectly match your natural teeth.

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Dental Bridges

Why a Dental Bridge?

If you have suffered extensive decay or if your teeth have become too deteriorated for further treatment with traditional fillings or dental crowns, individual teeth or a number of teeth in the same area may require extraction.

When this happens, a gap is left which is not only unattractive and embarrassing but is detrimental to your oral and even your physical health.

Soon as teeth are missing, the supportive bone in the jaw begins to be lost through a process called resorption, meaning that it breaks down and is absorbed back into the body. Over time, the teeth that are left begin to shift because they are no longer held in place by their proximity to the teeth that are now missing. This shift results in bite problems since the remaining teeth have moved out of their proper place and the upper and lower teeth no longer meet correctly.

Bite problems cause hardship in chewing and speaking properly, often leading to digestive difficulties. Incorrect bite also causes jaw pain and headache and can eventually lead to temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ) — a painful problem in which the jaw joint is strained by the powerful torsion of chewing with teeth that meet improperly and is itself forced out of proper alignment.

Missing teeth and the changes that occur to other healthy dentition due to the resulting gap can ultimately lead to the loss of teeth on either side of the space since, with time, the deterioration of the gum and bone eventually reaches the remaining teeth as well. Even if they are essentially healthy, the supporting bone and tissue is no longer sufficient and those teeth can loosen and fall out.

It's easy to see that gaps in the teeth not only cause a lowered self-image but, left untreated, can cause irreversible changes to the gums, increasing loss of bone in the jaw, and loss of remaining teeth due to lack of support; all making treatment increasingly difficult.

But there is no need to allow this domino effect to ever take place! Our doctors can provide a completely natural-looking dental bridge to span the gap that is left by missing teeth, maintaining the remaining teeth in their proper position and providing the ability to chew and speak normally.

What is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is used to replace one or more missing teeth. A bridge can help reduce the risk of gum disease, maintain proper bite and alleviate speech problems that can develop due to gaps in the teeth.

Different types of dental bridges can be created according to individual need. The most commonly used bridges are:

• The traditional bridge, known as a fixed bridge, is anchored by a crown at each end which covers the remaining tooth on either side of the natural-looking replacement teeth (pontics) of the bridge.
  
  
• Another kind of bridge is called a cantilever bridge. A cantilever bridge is used when there are natural teeth left on only one side of a missing tooth and there is not excessive chewing pressure, particularly with the front teeth. The cantilever bridge uses two crowns positioned together side by side next to the space left by the missing tooth. The natural-looking pontic is connected to these two crowns.
  
  

All of these bridges remain in place once the procedure is completed.

There are also other types of bridges which our doctors will discuss with you if they are more appropriate to suit your needs.

How is a Dental Bridge Created?

The missing tooth or teeth in closest proximity to the bridge will be prepared to accept the crowns that will anchor the bridge in place. Our doctors will carefully then take impressions of your gums and prepared teeth in the area where the bridge will be placed in order to produce a permanently cemented appliance that fits well and is comfortable to wear.

Having your dental bridge created and placed is usually a quick procedure, often taking place in just two office visits.

How Long Will My Dental Bridge Last?

Excellent home care along with a program of regular professional oral hygiene in the dental office will allow you to enjoy the use of your dental bridge for many years; often a decade or more.

Your dental bridge will look natural, giving the appearance of a healthy smile with no missing teeth, and will protect your oral and overall health by maintaining the correct position of your remaining teeth and preventing the many destructive consequences of tooth loss.