Dental Crowns allow dentists to restore and protect a worn and damaged tooth. Crowns are cemented or "glued" onto your tooth, thereby protecting the tooth long term. Esthetics are enhanced with crowns due to the covering or masking of a dark tooth. The tooth is also protected from fracture and possible loss of tooth. Dentists will discuss with patients which teeth need crowns. Although more expensive, crowns can protect a tooth over 10 years versus a tooth with large fillings, which last usually 3-5 years or less. Crowns can be made of Gold, porcelain, or zirconia ( a tooth color metal) and generally require a dental lab to fabricate.
Dental crowns protect and strengthen teeth that are severely decayed, damaged, weakened, or misshapen. They can restore a tooth's function, aesthetics, and structural integrity. The process of getting a dental crown typically involves multiple steps. First, the dentist prepares the tooth by removing any decayed or damaged portions and shaping it to accommodate the crown. An impression or digital scan of the prepared tooth is taken, which serves as a mold for the dental laboratory to create a custom crown. A temporary crown may be placed on the tooth while the permanent crown is being fabricated. Once the permanent crown is ready, it is bonded or cemented onto the tooth using dental adhesive.
Dental crowns can restore your smile after tooth loss so you can enjoy better oral health. The restoration can improve the appearance of your smile and prevent teeth from shifting out of place, which can lead to misalignment. You’ll also experience the benefits of enhanced chewing function to eat the foods you love again.
Your dental crown will be custom-made to fit your smile to look and feel natural so you can feel confident about your new restoration. Our dentist will provide you with a lifelike dental crown that will blend with the rest of your teeth. With proper care and regular dental visits, your dental crown can last for years.
Bridges allow dentists to replace a missing tooth or teeth. Teeth on either side of the missing tooth will be prepared for crowns and an impression is taken and sent to the dental lab. Once received, the dentist will then cement the bridge onto the prepared teeth. The part of the bridge that is cemented onto the prepared teeth is called the abutment teeth, and the part of the bridge which replaces the missing tooth is called the pontic. The bridge is one piece, with the abutments connected to the pontic(s). Dentists and lab techs have certain ways to make the bridge look as lifelike as possible, so esthetics are achieved. Patients will be given specific instructions on how to clean bridges as this is important to the lifespan of the bridge.
A traditional bridge is also called a fixed bridge because it has dental crowns on both ends that anchor the bridge over your natural teeth or dental implants. These teeth serve as the anchors for the bridge, and the prosthetic tooth in the middle fills in the gap left by the missing teeth. The crowns fit over the top of the natural teeth and are cemented into place with dental cement to hold them in place. A dentist can remove this bridge when it needs to be cleaned.
This type of bridge is also a three-unit bridge, but it’s not as noticeable because the resin used to make it is tooth-colored, so it blends in with the smile. These are made from porcelain fused with metal material but have a resin coating on the visible part of the bridge to make them look more natural. Dental crowns are placed on the healthy teeth on both sides of the gap to anchor the bridge that holds the false tooth in the center. Like a traditional fixed bridge, these are also cemented into place over the existing teeth so the patient cannot remove them.
A cantilever bridge may be recommended for patients with only two healthy teeth on one side of the missing one. These fill small spaces where only one natural tooth can hold the prosthetic tooth in place. They consist of a crown anchored over the natural tooth on one side with a false tooth attached to it on the other side to fill in the space. But rather than having the two anchoring crowns placed over each end of the false tooth, the crowns are placed next to each other on the same side.
Please reach out to our dental practice at 70 Pennington Dr, Ste 7, Bluffton, SC 29910, to have a consultation with our dentists. Call Dentist in Bluffton, SCat (843) 706-3377 or schedule an online consultation, and we'll guide you further.
MON - THU 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
FRI - SUN Closed
70 Pennington Dr, Ste 7, Bluffton, SC 29910
