Crowns & Bridges
A lot of patients visit our practice with teeth that are chipped, broken, worn out, or even missing. They seem too worried about the aesthetics of their smile and wouldn't be sure if they can get their beautiful smile back. Well, you can find the answer to such questions in the form of dental crowns and bridges.
Crowns and bridges are ceramic restorations used for restorative and cosmetic dental purposes. Crowns are popularly referred to as dental caps as they completely cover a tooth. They are used to restore teeth that are worn out, cracked, weak, or naturally misshapen. Bridges, on the other hand, are prosthetic teeth used in place of missing teeth. Both these restorations are made from tooth-colored ceramic material and hence, offer excellent aesthetics.
Why should you choose bridges?
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Bridges are the most straightforward tooth restorations. They would be the easiest option to replace a small number of teeth as there is no need for surgery.
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Since the bridge is held in place by crowns on either side, they would be highly stable. Oral functions, such as biting and chewing, can be done without hassle.
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The bridge would fill in the gap left by the missing tooth, thus preventing the drifting of teeth from their orthodontically right positions.
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The appearance of the bridge would perfectly mimic that of the natural teeth. Anyone who looks at your dental bridge wouldn't have the faintest idea that it is a fake tooth.
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Procedure
An initial screening would give the dentist an idea about the condition of the teeth. Depending on several factors such as the strength of the tooth, health of the gums, spacing available for placing the restoration, etc. the candidacy for the restorations will be decided.
The teeth will be cleaned and buffed to remove a thin layer of enamel from the surface. This can help accommodate the ceramic restorations and prevent the tooth from looking bloated. A highly precise mold of the teeth will be taken using a digital scanning device. Using this data will the crown or bridge will be fabricated in the dental laboratory. While this is being carried out, the dentist may suggest you use a temporary restoration.
When the permanent restoration is finished and ready to be bonded, you will be prepared for the procedure. The temporary restoration will be removed, and the teeth receiving the crown or bridge will be etched using an etching solution. We use dental adhesives to bond the restorations to the surface of the teeth, after which curing light will be used to harden it.