Crowns
Crowns, also known as caps, are restorations that are custom-built for your tooth. These restorations are typically used on teeth that have very large fillings or on badly broken down teeth that cannot be fixed with fillings alone.
Crowns can be used on cracked teeth to help prevent expansion of these cracks and tooth fracture. Crowns are also used to protect root-canal treated teeth as these teeth tend to be more brittle and susceptible to fracture.
At Asante Dental, we typically use three types of crowns:
- Gold crowns
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns
- All-porcelain crown
All-porcelain crowns can be used on the front teeth because of their more natural appearance. However, they tend to not be as strong as the other types of crowns. Full-gold or porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are used on back teeth because of their strength and durability.
Making a customized crown requires at least 2 appointments:
Appointment 1
- The tooth is shaped/prepared to create space for the crown
- A precise impression is made of the prepared tooth
- A customized design is prescribed to the laboratory on how the crown will be built
- A custom temporary crown is made and placed on the tooth
Appointment 2
(typically 1 week later)
- Dentist verifies fit and shade of the permanent crown
- Restoration is permanently cemented in place
Bridges
Bridges are permanent restorations used to replace one or more missing teeth. The bridge consists of at least one anchor tooth that has a crown on it, as well as the missing tooth which is attached to the anchor tooth.
Replacing a missing tooth can result in improved chewing function. At the same time, missing teeth may lead to abnormal shifting or tilting of adjacent teeth or excessive eruption of opposing teeth. Having missing teeth may result in abnormal forces on remaining teeth which can cause bone loss and the eventual loss of these teeth.
Once the bridge is cemented in place, special care needs to be taken to keep the teeth and gums clean. As the anchor teeth and missing teeth are attached, a special flossing technique is needed to keep the area clean. Our office will explain this procedure in detail.
As with crowns, bridges require two appointments at the office.
If you have any questions regarding this or any other treatment we provide, please do not hesitate to ask us.
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