Dental Crowns and Bridges
Broken or damaged teeth can be a real hindrance to your lifestyle, primarily if they affect the foods you can eat and your ability to smile. Not only does a missing tooth look unattractive, but it can also make it difficult to eat certain hard foods. Even your speech is affected, and you may experience a lisp depending on the location of your missing tooth. When your teeth sustain damage, we can repair your smile at Olive Chapel Family Dentistry using high-quality dental restorations such as dental crowns and bridges.
Restoring your teeth allows you to achieve greater confidence and balanced nutrition. For many of our patients near Apex, NC; the ability to restore their smile is pleasing enough, but there are additional benefits besides improving your appearance.
Dental Crowns to Protect Your Teeth
Fixed Dental Bridges Replace Missing Teeth
- Fixed Dental Bridges
- How Dental Bridges Work
- Dental Implants vs. Dental Bridges
- Caring for Your Dentistry
What Is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown, or cap, is a tooth restoration designed to stabilize a damaged or cracked tooth. Unlike a dental veneer which protects the front surface of your tooth, a dental crown covers the entire tooth to provide additional stability and protection. You may have broken your tooth biting into something, in an accident, or due to deep tooth decay. A dental crown becomes necessary when a filling does not provide enough support to prevent continued damage or tooth loss.
A dental crown covers your tooth from your gum line to the chewing surface. Since it covers your whole tooth, it absorbs some of the force from chewing and keeps your tooth from splitting beyond repair.
Dental Crown Procedure in Apex, NC
We first remove any damaged tooth structure, including any tooth decay. Next, we can rebuild your tooth using composite, if necessary, giving your crown a place to seat effectively. We will take an impression to create your dental crown and fit you with a temporary crown to hide your missing tooth until your porcelain crown arrives from our dental lab. Once we receive your permanent crown, we will permanently attach it to your tooth and make any final adjustments necessary to ensure a precise fit with your bite.
When Is a Dental Crown Necessary?
You may be wondering if you are the right candidate for dental crowns. Some dental issues can be fixed easily with dental veneers, which cover the front surface of the tooth. However, sometimes dental crowns are the best solution, for example in the following cases:
- Weakened teeth: Over time teeth can become vulnerable because of tooth decay or chipping.
- Broken teeth: If you crack a tooth, a dental crown prevents it from cleaving or cracking further.
- Worn teeth: Sometimes teeth can wear down unusually quickly, so they need a cap to protect the structure of the tooth.
- Cavity: In some oral instances, a filling is not sufficient when repairing a decayed tooth and there is not enough structure to support it. Dental crowns can correct this issue and prevent further decay.
- Misshapen teeth: Dental crowns can cover a tooth that isn’t cosmetically pleasing. If you have a jagged, uneven, or gapped tooth, dental crowns are a great option.
- Dental bridges: Dental crowns are mounted on both sides of a missing tooth to support a dental bridge.
- Dental implants: Dental crowns are the visible part of a dental implant, capping the implant and replacing a missing tooth.
Fixed Dental Bridges
When you unexpectedly lose a tooth, you may have concerns about how to repair your smile. Fixed dental bridges fill in the gap left behind by your missing tooth and give you added confidence in your appearance. Our patients near Apex, NC enjoy immediate results with dental bridges since they match your existing smile and provide support for day-to-day actions like eating and speaking. We meticulously match your dental bridge to your natural teeth, so your smile is seamless and looks completely natural.
How Dental Bridges Work
To create a dental bridge, we need to place supportive crowns on the two adjacent teeth to anchor your false tooth, called a pontic. While dental bridges do not provide the same bone-preserving benefits of dental implants, they do keep your teeth from shifting and maintain your beautiful smile. Dental bridges are a good solution for our patients who want an alternative to dental implants.
Dental Implants vs. Dental Bridges
If you are missing a tooth and are trying to get it replaced, you have many tooth replacement options in Apex, NC. Many patients find themselves considering dental implants vs. dental bridges. While they involve different dental processes, both a dental implant or bridge can restore your smile and your confidence. Dr. Dustin Prusik can work with you regarding your options and help you make the best decision for your lifestyle and needs. Some considerations regarding each option include the following.
- Bone structure: Since dental implants involve a surgical procedure to anchor the implant to the jawbone, it’s essential that there is a sufficient amount of bone to place the implant. If a tooth has been missing for a certain length of time, it’s possible that the bone has receded and bone graft surgery is necessary. In cases like this, a dental bridge may be a better solution.
- Supporting adjacent teeth: In cases where the neighboring teeth have large fillings, a fixed dental bridge may be the best option since the teeth will require dental crowns to support the bridge. This method serves a dual purpose by restoring your missing tooth and improving the teeth around it! Immediate results: Dental implants can take four to six months for implants to anchor to the bone and replacement teeth to be attached. Some of our Apex, NC patients enjoy the immediate benefit of a dental bridge, even if the solution is temporary while they heal during the dental implant process. If you need a tooth extracted for a dental implant or dentures, a dental bridge can prevent living with a missing tooth while you heal.
Caring for Your Dental Restorations
Taking care of your dental prosthetics is essential when protecting your investment. You can brush and floss a dental crown regularly. A dental bridge will require a little extra effort to keep it clean. You will need to use a small brush or specially designed floss to clean under your dental bridge to prevent gum disease. Keeping regular dental cleanings are also essential for our dentist to keep track of any changes or potential issues.
With proper care and maintenance, your dental crown or bridge can last 10 to 15 years, which makes this an important investment in your appearance and oral health.
Contact Our Dentist Office in Apex, NC to Get Started!
If you have a missing or cracked tooth, you don’t have to live in discomfort or embarrassment. You have many tooth restoration options; our dentist can work with you to pick the best tooth solution for your situation. We know that the process can seem overwhelming or out of reach, but our dental staff will make the entire process comfortable and stress-free.
We welcome you to call Olive Chapel Family Dentistry at (919) 335-6133 to schedule a consultation for dental crowns or bridges.
We look forward to helping you achieve a healthy, comfortable smile!