Natural Looking Crowns & Bridges Replace Missing Teeth In Rancho Mirage
Traditional & Implant Retained Crown & Bridges By Dr. Christian Lazar
Crowns and bridges are restorative dentistry techniques replace missing teeth with permanent prosthetics. Made to resemble the appearance of natural teeth, they restore function and appearance to the mouth after restorative procedures such as root canals. Modern dentistry also uses them as an integral part of implant therapy, as individual teeth are finished off with a cap or crown and several missing teeth are replaced with a bridge attached to the titanium posts installed for implants.
Placed over an individual tooth, a crown is often made of porcelain, although stainless steel, gold, alloyed metals, porcelain-fused-to-metal, resin, or ceramic can be used as well. Porcelain crowns are very popular as they can be made to in the color, shape, and size of natural teeth, while being strong enough to last for years.
They are often used to replace portions of the tooth lost due to decay or after root canals .They are also used to attach bridges after the supporting tooth is cut down, to prevent a cracked tooth from becoming worse, to stabilize an existing filling in jeopardy of becoming loose or dislocated, or to cover stained or discolored teeth. There newest use is to cover implants, as they are screwed on the post the dentist implants. The result looks great, while allowing the synthetic tooth to function more like a natural one.
When a section of teeth are mission, a bridge can be custom made to fill the gap and both restore the proper bite relationship between upper and lower teeth and the natural contour of teeth. These natural-looking dental appliances are most often made of porcelain, gold alloys, or combinations of materials.
Dental bridges can be fixed after being permanently attached to the mouth with adhesive or hooked unto existing teeth so that they are removable. There are several styles of permanent bridge:
To accommodate a traditional crown or bridge, a tooth must usually be reduced in size by removing the enamel. (This is an irreversible process, as the tooth must always be covered by a crown once the enamel taken away.) The dentist will then take an impression from the existing tooth so that a custom-designed crown can be made at a dental lab. Until the permanent crown is ready to be cemented in place, a temporary crown is installed.
Crowns or bridges used for implants are attached to the post the dentist has placed in the mouth. There is no need to remove enamel to shape adjacent teeth to accommodate the implant. Because new teeth are screwed in place, there is also no need for adhesive and no risk of the teeth becoming loose in the future as a result of eating brittle foods, ice, or hard candy.
Caring for any type of crown or bridge require good oral hygiene that involves brushing and flossing. You should see your dentist twice a year for checkups, especially if you have implants.
If you are interested in a crown or bridge of any type, call us today at (760) 674-8881.
As a dental consumer, you have the right to know the pro’s and con’s of any procedure, your treatment options, and the out-of-pocket cost to you. We provide you with the information you need to might the right choice of treatments for you.
To learn more about our services, or to schedule an examination, call (760) 674-8881.
