What is a Crown?
Our goal is to give you a natural smile, both in looks and comfort. If a tooth is damaged or decayed beyond repair, we can offer a variety of crowns to restore function and appearance. A crown is a dental restoration that shields the damaged, cracked or broken tooth, while retaining functionality. It can be made from an assortment of materials, including porcelain-fused-to metal, porcelain, zirconia, and e-max—all of which and more we offer in our on-site laboratory. This technique is a game changer for people with significant tooth damage, permanently replacing broken teeth to offer a complete smile and a functional bite.
How Long Does it Take to Fit a Crown?
Fitting a crown requires at least two visits to our office. During your first appointment, we will remove decay, take an impression of your tooth, fit it with a temporary crown, and select a shade for the permanent crown that matches your natural color. If your teeth are unevenly colored or do not adhere to the standard shades, our professional laboratory technicians can create a custom shade on-site.
On your next visit, the temporary crown will be removed, and the permanent one fitted, adjusted to your comfort level, and cemented. Throughout the process, our doctors will be available to you for temporary adjustments, and our on-site lab will ensure a speedy creation of your crown!
**COMING SOON: DIGITAL IMPRESSIONS to maximize your comfort and bring you even faster, more accurate dental work!
What is a Fixed Bridge?
If you're missing one or more teeth, you may notice impacts to your oral health and functionality. A missing tooth can often lead to problems with chewing, diction, as well as overall comfort within the mouth. However, if this gap is surrounded by present, adjacent teeth, a bridge may be a possible solution.
Fixed bridges attach artificial teeth to adjacent natural teeth, which are known as abutment teeth. They are applied either by placing crowns on the abutment teeth or by direct bonding of artificial teeth to the abutment teeth. As its name implies, a bridge fills the gap where a tooth is absent, both aesthetically and in function. It is a stable, reliable way to treat missing teeth.
How Long Does it Take to Place a Bridge?
Bridge placement usually takes about two appointments to complete. During your first visit, your abutment teeth (on either side of the gap) will be prepared by removing any decay as well as some of the tooth structure. Next, we will take some impressions for our lab technicians, so that they can construct your bridge with expert accuracy. Two crowns will be created to support the bridge on either side of the gap.
By your second visit, the bridge will be ready for placement and cementing.
Types of Bridges:
- Traditional — Crowns are bonded over teeth that lie on either side of the missing tooth
- Cantilever — Crown is bonded over a single tooth next to the missing one
- Resin-bonded — Porcelain or plastic teeth with gums that are supported by metal “wings”
