Crowns

A dental crown is needed when a tooth has extensive damage. There are three types of crowns: metal (usually gold), bonded all-porcelain crown, and porcelain fused to metal.

Gold

Gold crowns are easiest to fit to your teeth and have the best record for longevity. Gold eliminates the possibility of chipping that slightly exists with anything that contains porcelain.

Bonded all-porcelain

All-porcelain crowns have the most beautiful appearance and look very much like natural teeth.

Porcelain fused to metal

Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns have a nearly natural appearance, but because they have a metal substructure, they require the use of an opaquer under the porcelain, which makes it impossible to re-create the translucency of natural teeth. They can also show a dark line at the edge, next to the gum.

Bridges

What is a dental bridge?

A dental bridge is a false tooth that is fused between two porcelain crowns to fill in the area left by a missing tooth. The two crowns holding it in place are attached to your teeth on each side of the false tooth. This is known as a fixed bridge. This procedure is used to replace one or more missing teeth. Fixed bridges cannot be taken out of your mouth as you might do with removable partial dentures.

In areas of your mouth that are under less stress, such as your front teeth, a cantilever bridge may be used. Cantilever bridges are used when there are teeth on only one side of the open space. This procedure involves anchoring the false tooth to one side over one or more natural, adjacent teeth.

Bridges can reduce your risk of gum disease, help correct some bite issues, and improve your speech. Bridges require your commitment to oral hygiene but can last ten years or more.

Who is a candidate for dental bridges?

If you have missing teeth and have good oral hygiene practices, you should discuss this procedure with us. If spaces are left unfilled, they may cause the surrounding teeth to drift out of position. Additionally, spaces from missing teeth can cause surrounding teeth and your gums to be more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease.