When patients are looking to restore the appearance and function of their smiles after experiencing the loss of a tooth, bridges and crowns are often considered as an option. These prosthetic devices are not removable like dentures but are permanently affixed in your mouth like your natural teeth. Romans & Soltani Dentistry has been using crowns and bridges to restore the smiles of their patients in the Camillus, NY area. If you want to know if these prosthetics can help improve your oral health or appearance, you can find out more here.
What Are Dental Crowns?
A dental crown is a term used to describe a prosthetic restoration placed on a damaged tooth. These treatments can be used not only to improve the appearance of a tooth, but also to strengthen it, correct its shape, alignment, or appearance. Crowns can also be placed on an implant to help restore function and provide a replacement for a natural tooth. These crowns are most commonly created out of ceramic or porcelain, though alloys or gold are sometimes used. These alloys have the benefit of being more durable than porcelain and are a good solution for molars for this reason.
What Are Bridges?
Bridges are a restoration treatment that can be used if you’re missing one or more teeth and have the benefit of protecting your remaining teeth from shifting or rotating. Missing teeth can do more than impact your bite, but can also lead to temporomandibular joint issues and gum disease. Bridges get their name from their design that spans the space between two teeth, which are known as abutments in this procedure. These abutments serve as supports and anchors for the artificial replacement tooth that is known as a pontic. The same materials are available for bridges as those available for dental crowns, though porcelain and ceramic are the most commonly used.
How Are Bridges and Crowns Made?
The same base procedure has to be performed for bridges and crowns. The teeth that are to host the crown or those used as abutments must be reshaped so that the new tooth or teeth can be properly fitted to them. Following this reshaping, a mold of the teeth will be taken so the crown or bridge can be made. A temporary bridge or crown will be put inserted until the permanent one is returned from the lab the mold is sent to.
How Do I Care For My Prosthetic?
Caring for this form of replacement is the same as caring for your normal teeth. Regular brushing, flossing, and use of mouth wash will help preserve their health and their appearance. With proper care, the teeth can last for decades, though they do sometimes fall out or come loose. Regular dental visits also ensure that your crown or bridge will last as long as possible.
If you’re wondering if you can improve your oral health by getting bridges or crowns, make a call to our office at 1-315-487-1545 for an appointment. We’ll schedule a consultation with Dr. Soltani or Dr. Romans to determine if your case is appropriate for the use of crowns or bridges. Following the appointment, your oral health care path will be determined, and the next appointment to a beautiful smile scheduled.
