Dental Crowns and Bridges are two very common dental procedures. Crowns and Bridges are both types of implants, and are used to prevent tooth decay, or to simply improve the aesthetics of your teeth.
A Crown is essentially a cover, or casing, that is placed over the existing tooth. Alternatively, Bridges are used to cover gaps caused by missing teeth and are attached to neighboring healthy teeth, or an implant.
When are Crowns used?
Dental Crowns can be used for treatment of a number of dental issues, including:
- Protecting a weak or fractured tooth
- Covering an implant
- Covering a tooth for aesthetic reasons
- Attaching a bridge
Just because you need a crown for a functional purpose like protecting a weak tooth, doesn’t mean it can’t look great too! We can tailor all porcelain or ceramic crowns to match the color of your other teeth perfectly. We also create crowns from gold or other metal alloys, depending on your personal preferences.
When are Bridges used?
Bridges, unlike Crowns, are only used when you are missing a tooth, and would like to cover up the gap. Bridges are important for more than just aesthetic reasons however, as if you are missing a tooth, your neighboring teeth will eventually begin to shift in order to fill in the gap. By effectively utilizing a bridge, your other teeth will remain in place, and any gap will be aesthetically covered.
How long will my Crown or Bridge last?
This a question we often get from patients. The truth is, when properly taken care of, a Crown or Bridge can last a lifetime. Occasionally, your crown or bridge may become loose, or damaged. If this happens, it’s important to give us a call immediately.
To prevent any possible damage, you should continue to practice positive dental hygiene after you receive your implant. Just like any other tooth, your implant must be brushed at least twice per day, and flossed once per day. These healthy practices will also protect the aesthetics of your implant.
Contact us
Dental implants are not right for everyone, but in many cases, these options are a much better treatment than alternatives like dentures, for example. If you have any questions about implants, and to find out if this is a suitable option for you, give us a call! One of our knowledgeable staff members would be happy to speak with you further.