Dental Crowns
Dental Bridges
Lifelike
Crowns and Bridges
Crowns and Bridges – So Lifelike
No-one Will Know
Restorative dentistry, which
involves working with teeth that
have been lost, damaged, or
which have decayed, is often
referred to as dental crown and
bridgework.
Dental bridges and
crowns can do many things,
including correcting for missing
teeth, making adjustments for
bite dysfunction, and working
with structural or functional
dental issues.
Bridges work as
replacements for missing teeth
whereas crowns are used to
restore function and original
form to a damaged tooth or
teeth. The process of dental
crowns or bridges involves
cementing the devices onto the
teeth; as a result, this type of
restoration dentistry is
referred to as “fixed” dental
work, in contrast to removable
corrections such as partial
dentures or appliances.
What Are Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are prosthetics
which are placed over an
existing tooth which has been
fractured, is severely decayed,
or contains older filling.
Crowns strengthen and increase
the durability of the tooth, as
well as create a clean and
smooth appearance. Additionally,
dental crowns protect what
remains of the original tooth’s
structure and provide a
strengthening effect. The most
common types of
crowns are:
Not only does a
crown appear to
be a normal tooth, it also
affects the facial muscles as it
is the same shape and size of
the tooth it is supporting and
covering. This means the
crown
will help to keep the proper
alignment for your jaw and your
bite. As an added benefit, the
crown also protects your other
teeth, keeping them from
shifting within your mouth or
assuming a greater
responsibility in the processes
of chewing and biting, which
means no facial or muscular
pain.
Dental crowns are usually
recommended when a tooth has so
much decay that it is no longer
a good candidate for a filling
or if your tooth has been broken
or cracked and there is the
potential for further damage
down into the tooth’s root if
the situation is not corrected.
The Technology of Crowns
Unless the other person is a
dental professional, it is
unlikely that your friends and
the people you encounter
throughout your day will know
that you have a
crown: today’s
dental crowns both function and
look like your natural teeth.
Crowns are a great option when
you have tooth decay that has
advanced to a point where
fillings no longer are advisable
or an option to strengthen your
tooth.
In the past,
crowns were most
frequently made from gold;
however, today’s technology
allows for crowns to be made
from porcelain. One of the benefits of
porcelain is that the color can
be matched to your other teeth,
so that the
crown is not
detectable as being different
from the other teeth in your
mouth. This can give you a
feeling of confidence in your
smile, especially if the
crown
is in the forefront of your
mouth. However, if the affected
tooth is in the back of your
mouth, where it is not likely to
be seen, you might opt for a
gold crown, instead.
We will discuss your crown with
you, including the benefits of
the different materials, and how
you feel about your appearance;
the cosmetic difference in
appearance are a big deal to
some people but others are not
as concerned.
Caring for Your Dental Crown
Caring for your
dental crown is
simple: you need to perform your
daily brushing and flossing
routines as you do for your
other teeth, including flossing
below the gum line. It is
essential that you protect your
tooth from further decay, by
protecting the base of the crown
– the area around the gum – from
the growth of harmful bacteria.
What is a Dental Bridge?
Dental bridges are utilized when
one or more teeth are missing
from your mouth. The bridge is
designed to support the
remaining, surrounding teeth by
replacing the missing teeth.
Bridges are a group of
interconnected dental crowns and
are held permanently in place.
The benefits of a
dental bridge
are many, including keeping the
remaining teeth from migrating
or moving out of position within
your mouth, which can lead to
tooth decay and gum disease, as
well as the potential loss of
more teeth, and changes in your
bite, which causes muscle pain.
Your dental bridge will help to
correct issues with your bite,
reduce the risk of gum disease
and additional tooth decay, and,
in some cases, can help to
improve speech. A
bridge is an
effective fixed dental work that
is both durable and
long-lasting.
Constructing a Dental Bridge
Only experienced, talented
dental professionals make
dental
bridges. The first step in any
bridgework is to file down the
teeth which have been identified
as those that are going to have
crowns. Then, impressions are
made of the teeth; these
impressions are used to create
the crowns to your
specifications.
Next in the
bridgework process,
the teeth are prepared and
shaped so that they are ready to
receive the custom-made crowns
and then another impression is
made. Once the
crowns have been
completed, the bonding process
begins, which involves attaching
the false tooth – or teeth – to
the crowns. Once the bridge has
been completed, a temporary –
sometimes called transitional –
bridge is created and fitted to
the affected area. Finally,
about a week later, we remove
the temporary or
transitional
bridge and place the permanent,
fixed bridge. The
permanent
bridge is strategically placed,
adjusted for your mouth, and
then cemented into place.
Benefits of Dental Bridges
Once your permanent
bridgework
has been cemented securely into
place, you are free to enjoy all
foods and can eat with
confidence, again. Additionally,
your face will no longer have
any sort of sunken-in
appearance, which happens when
teeth are missing, and your
dental arch is stabilized, which
gives your face a more youthful
appearance. In no time at all
you will be smiling with
confidence, showing off your new
teeth, and feeling secure in how
you appear to others.
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