Crowns & Bridges

What are crowns and bridges?

Crowns and bridges are dental restorations that replace missing permanent teeth or improve their function, strength, and overall appearance.

Crowns are tooth-colored dental caps that fit over your teeth to improve how they look and feel. Crowns look like your natural teeth and protect them from future problems.

Dental bridges replace teeth that are missing or severely damaged. They attach to dental implants or consist of two crowns plus another artificial tooth attachment.

What are the advantages of crowns and bridges?

The benefits of crowns and bridges are:

• Natural-looking teeth
• Strong, sturdy, long-lasting teeth
• No tooth gaps
• Easier chewing
• Clearer speech
• Beautiful teeth and smile
• Less adjacent teeth shifting

Crown and bridges are simple treatments that enhance the health and look of your teeth and gorgeous smile.

Are crowns and bridges the right treatment for me?

You may be a candidate for crowns and bridges if you have tooth decay, tooth damage, loose permanent teeth, or missing permanent teeth. The Elmora Dental team reviews the results of your dental X-rays, examines your gums and teeth, and discusses your treatment preferences and desired results before customizing a restorative dental treatment plan.

What happens when receiving crowns and bridges?

What you can expect when receiving crowns and bridges depends on the type of dental restoration you receive:

Your dentist scans the affected tooth to create a custom-fitted crown that fits over the top of your natural tooth. They first remove any decay and may reshape your tooth before bonding a crown over the top of it.

If you’re missing a permanent tooth, your dentist implants a metal post (dental implant) into your jawbone to anchor an implant-supported crown.

A traditional bridge contains two crowns that your dentist bonds over the top of two adjacent natural teeth. The artificial tooth between the two crowns replaces a missing permanent tooth.

Implant-supported bridges contain more than one artificial tooth attached to each other. The bridge securely bonds to dental implants after your dentist inserts them into your jawbone.

What happens after crown or bridge placement?

It's essential to take good care of your new crown or bridge by not chewing on hard objects. Brush your teeth after you eat, floss your teeth daily, and see the Elmora Dental team at least every six months for cleanings and dental exams.

To learn more about crowns and bridges at Elmora Dental, schedule an evaluation by phone or online today.