Crowns and Bridges
Bridges
Bridges are natural-looking dental appliances that can replace 1 or more missing teeth. Because they are custom-made, bridges are barely noticeable and can restore the natural contour of teeth as well as the proper bite relationship between upper and lower teeth. Bridges are sometimes referred to as fixed partial dentures, because they are semi-permanent and are bonded to existing teeth or implants. There are several types of fixed dental bridges (cannot be removed), including conventional fixed bridges, cantilever bridges and resin-bonded bridges. Unlike a removable bridge, which you can take out and clean, only your dentist can remove a fixed bridge. Zirconia, porcelain, and gold alloys or combinations of materials are used to make bridges.
Crowns
Crowns are man-made replacements for the portion of a tooth you normally see when you look in your mouth. Crowns are typically used to restore a tooth’s function and appearance following loss of more than 50% of the tooth structure to decay, fracture or failing restorations, or a restorative procedure such as a root canal. Crowns are also used to prevent a cracked tooth from becoming worse, or when a large existing filling is in jeopardy of becoming loose or dislocated. Crowns may also serve an aesthetic use, and are applied when a discolored or stained tooth needs to be restored to its natural appearance.
Procedures
The outside of the tooth will be reduced in size to accommodate a crown. An impression or scan is then made from the existing preparation to create a custom-designed crown. The impression is sent to a special lab, which manufactures a custom-designed crown. A temporary crown will applied until the permanent crown is ready. Permanent crowns are cemented in place. Crowns are sometimes confused with veneers, but they are quite different. Veneers are typically applied to only relatively small areas of each tooth.
Caring For Your Crowns
With proper care, a good quality crown could last up to eight years or longer. It is very important to floss in the area of the crown to avoid excess plaque or collection of debris around the restoration. Certain behaviors such as jaw clenching or bruxism (teeth grinding) significantly shorten the life of a crown. Moreover, eating brittle foods, ice or hard candy can compromise the adhesion of the crown, or even damage the crown just as it might damage a natural tooth.
