Crown and Bridgework
Crowns and bridges are two of the most widely used dental restorations. Crowns are used to make changes to the contour, size, and overall appearance of the teeth. Bridges are prosthetic teeth used to replace missing ones and are widely known to be the simplest replacement for natural teeth. Both restorations are ideally made from tooth-colored ceramic and hence, can be customized to mimic the exact appearance of the adjoining teeth.
What are the conditions to opt for crowns?
- When your tooth has cracked due to external trauma, a dental crown can be used to hold it intact and prevent the crack from becoming more significant.
- Dental fillings may crack after a few years, making them hard to repair or replace. In such cases, a crown is used to hold the filling intact.
- A tooth badly discolored due to staining can be made to look whiter with a crown over it.
- Teeth that have undergone root canal treatment are usually weak after the treatment. There are more chances for the teeth to crack or crumble. A crown helps support such teeth.
- Teeth that have undergone severe wear could look disfigured and shorter in length. This could expose the underlying root canal cavity to the microbes in the mouth. Such teeth can be restored using dental crowns.
- Excessively spaced teeth are the result of a type of malocclusion called spacing. These spaces can be eliminated using crowns.
What is the procedure involved in getting a crown?
Each crown is custom made and has to be fabricated in a dental laboratory. The procedure for getting conventional crowns would require at least two visits to the dentist's office. During the first visit, the dentist will examine the tooth to determine if there are any cracks on the tooth, worn out or cracked fillings, discoloration, etc. The tooth needs preparation such as filling cavities, cleaning the tooth thoroughly, removing a thin layer of enamel from the tooth to accommodate the crown, etc., before the digital impression is taken. After this, the tooth is scanned, and the data is sent to the dental laboratory for fabricating the crown. A temporary crown may be used in place of the permanent one until it is finished. During the next visit, the crown will be placed on the tooth and checked for appropriate fit and contour. It will be bonded in position with the help of adhesives, after which it will be checked for comfort and fit.
When are the advantages of dental bridges?
- Dental bridges treat the problem of missing teeth, thereby helping you sport a confident smile.
- They prevent the adjoining teeth from drifting, i.e., getting displaced from their position in the jawbone.
- They help in biting and chewing food. Also, they help improve phonetics.
- They can be customized to match the natural teeth' exact appearance in terms of color, contour, texture, and overall appearance.
- The procedure for placing a bridge is quite similar to that of a crown.
Healthy Smiles of Birmingham provides the best dental crowns and bridges in the town. For more information, call us at (205) 991-9535, and please schedule a dental appointment with our best dentist at our office in Birmingham, AL 35242, and we'll guide you further.
