Restoration
Tooth crowns and dental bridges are treatments used in restorative dentistry to restore the look and function of your smile. For many people, decayed teeth, damaged teeth, or missing teeth make them self-conscious about their smile, and they are unable to eat or live the way they would like because of pain or discomfort.
Dental bridges and dental crowns can correct damaged, decayed, or missing teeth and the problems they cause. By leaving teeth that are damaged, decayed, or missing untreated, you leave yourself prone to:
- Bite Dysfunction
- Gum Disease
- Bone Deterioration
- Teeth Drifting
- Appearance Problems
Both dental bridges and dental crowns are restorations that are permanently cemented to your teeth to provide you with the look and function of your original teeth.
Dental Crowns:
A dental crown acts like a prosthetic, worn over the top of a damaged tooth. Whether the tooth was broken or damaged as a result of decay, a dental crown is used when the damage is too extensive to be corrected with a tooth filling.
Dental crowns both repair the tooth and strengthen it so that it can be used without worry and looks as natural as the rest of your teeth. Dental crowns can be created from porcelain, metal, or porcelain fused to metal.
If you are suffering from a decayed or damaged tooth, or if you have outdated dental work, a dental crown will restore your tooth to its original appearance and function. Also, it will prevent additional dental problems from occurring due to neglect.
Dental Crown Construction:
Today's dental crowns are constructed so that they both look and function like healthy, natural teeth. Dental crowns are made of porcelain, gold, stainless steel, porcelain fused to metal, or another metal amalgam.
In the past, all dental crowns were made of metal, and stood out from the rest of the natural teeth. This can make people very self-conscious, especially if the crown is on a front tooth.
Fortunately, porcelain crowns can be selected to perfectly match the color, translucency, shape, and size of your natural teeth so that they are indistinguishable from the rest of your teeth.
Many people opt for porcelain crowns because they are much less noticeable than metal crowns. However, if the tooth receiving the crown is in the back of the mouth, where it is not seen very much, a metal crown may suit your needs.
Dental crowns are used to repair and restore teeth that are not able to have a filling placed because it will weaken the tooth. Also, many people are now choosing to have their older metal crowns replaced with porcelain, or all ceramic, crowns because they look better.
Dental Crown Care:
After your crown is placed, you will be able to care for it just as you would the rest of your teeth. Although the crown will repair and restore your tooth so that it looks and functions like the rest, it can become damaged just like the rest of your teeth.
Because of this, regular brushing and flossing habits should be maintained. Also, the crown only covers the top of the tooth. This means that the bottom portion of your tooth with the crown is still susceptible to plaque and decay.
Schedule an initial consultation with a cosmetic dentist near you to determine what dental restoration is best for you. Your cosmetic dentist may suggest a dental crown if your tooth will not be able to hold a filling.
Dental Bridges:
Tooth loss can have a huge impact on both your dental health and your appearance. When you lose a tooth, your other teeth can drift out of position. This dental drifting can cause changes to your bite, loss of additional teeth, gum disease, and tooth decay.
If you lose a tooth, your dentist may recommend correcting the problem by placing a dental bridge. A dental bridge prevents the rest of your teeth from drifting by holding them in place and filling the space a missing tooth creates.
A dental bridge is made-up of two dental crowns held together by a replacement tooth that fills the gap in your smile. By filling the gap in your teeth, a dental bridge can prevent gum disease, correct speech, correct your bite, and restore your smile.
When a dental bridge is constructed and placed by an experienced cosmetic dentist, it can correct all the problems a missing tooth causes. Also, a well-maintained dental bridge is able to last for many years.
Dental Bridge Construction:
Placing a dental bridge begins by preparing the teeth on either side of the gap for dental crowns. After the teeth have been filed and shaped for the dental crowns, the cosmetic dentist will take an impression of the teeth so that your new dental bridge can be custom made to fit perfectly and match the rest of your natural teeth. After the impression has been made, the cosmetic dentist will place a temporary bridge.
After the crowns are created for the teeth on either side of the gap, the replacement tooth will be permanently bonded to them. This process usually takes about a week, but the result is a custom made bridge that can be permanently bonded to your natural teeth.
Your custom dental bridge will allow you to eat the foods you want, without having to think about the gap caused by a missing tooth. Also, the dental bridge will allow you to smile with confidence, knowing that your dental health has been restored.
Dental Bridge Care:
With proper oral hygiene, your dental bridge can last ten years or more. However, there are certain recommendations that can be followed so that you can reduce or eliminate dental problems with your bridge:
- Have your teeth cleaned by a professional every six months.
- Avoid sticky/hard snacks and foods.
- Limit the amount of food that can promote tooth decay. This includes foods that have high sugar or starch content.
- Brush your teeth carefully and completely after every meal. Food caught under the bridge can cause gum decay.
- Floss daily, and make sure you reach all the spaces between your teeth and under your bridge.
If you have a damaged, decayed, or missing tooth and would like to have it repaired with either a dental crown or a dental bridge, contact a Boston cosmetic dentist. We also provide a guide for choosing the right cosmetic dentist for you, Click Here.