Crown & Bridges
What is a crown and a bridge?
Your dentist may recommend a crown to:
Replace a large filling when there isn’t enough tooth remaining
- Protect a weak tooth from fracturing
- Restore a fractured tooth
- Attach a bridge
- Cover a dental implant
- Cover a discolored or poorly shaped tooth
· Cover a tooth that has had root canal treatment
Prevention
Why it’s Done
A bridge may be recommended if you’re missing one or more teeth. Gaps left by missing teeth eventually cause the remaining teeth to rotate or shift into empty spaces, resulting in a bad bite. The imbalance caused by missing teeth can also lead to gum disease and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
Bridges are commonly used to replace one or more missing teeth. They span the space where the teeth are missing.
Bridges are cemented to the natural teeth or implants surrounding the empty space. Teeth, called abutments, serve as anchors for the bridge. A replacement tooth, called a pontic, is attached to the crowns that cover the abutments.
As with crowns, you have a choice of materials for bridges. Your dentist can help you decide which to use, based on the location of the missing tooth (or teeth), its function, aesthetic considerations and cost.
How do you know if you need crowns and bridges?
You might require a crown for any number of reasons.
- Cap a damaged or decayed tooth.
- Strengthen a filled tooth.
- Protect a weak tooth.
- Improve a discolored tooth.
- Hold a dental bridge in place.
- Hold together a cracked tooth.
- Protect a tooth post-root canal.
- Cap a dental implant.
Conditions
Before either a crown or a bridge can be made, the tooth (or teeth) must be reduced in size so that the crown or bridge will fit over it properly. After reducing the tooth/teeth, your dentist will make an impression to provide an exact mold for the crown or bridge.
If porcelain is to be used, your dentist will determine the correct shade for the crown or bridge to match the color of your existing teeth.
While crowns and bridges can last a lifetime, they do sometimes come loose or fall out. The most important step you can take to ensure the longevity of your crown or bridge is to practice good oral hygiene. A bridge can lose its support if the teeth or bone holding it in place are damaged by dental disease.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Strong, natural-looking, low in cost
- Doesn’t require porcelain veneer
- Blends best with natural tooth color to restore a front-teeth smile
- Long-term durability, provides a strong bond to teeth, the metal framework provides strength
- Strongest of materials along with base-metal alloy, doesn’t fracture or wear down teeth, gentle on adjacent teeth
- Strongest of materials along with gold alloy, doesn’t fracture or wear down teeth, gentle on adjacent teeth, highly resistant to corrosion, requires the least amount of tooth to be removed
Cons
- Porcelain is prone to chipping, and can aggravate adjacent teeth IPS e.max (Lithium Disilicate)
- Not as strong or tough as other materials, usually limited to back teeth Ceramic (porcelain crowns)
- Prone to chipping, can aggravate adjacent teeth, susceptible to pressure (such as grinding teeth) Good to know: Usually limited to front teeth Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM)
- Porcelain is prone to chipping, and can aggravate adjacent teeth Gold Alloy
- Costly (copper and other metals mixed into the gold alloy), doesn’t look natural Good to know: Looks like a gold tooth Base-Metal Alloy
- Doesn’t look natural, can be costly Plus, for temporary prosthetics, dentists might use resin crowns.
Benefits experienced by some with new bridges:
- Restored smile
- Enhanced experience eating and chewing
- Improved bite and lower pressure on the rest of your teeth
- Upgraded ability to speak clearly
- Reduced drooping of your face or cheeks
Conditions
Types of Procedure
Many people ask how a dental bridge should fit. Bridges fill in the gap left by a tooth or multiple missing teeth by securing a false tooth to surrounding teeth or implants. The false tooth provides a “bridge” between your healthy teeth. In return, the surrounding teeth offer strength and support to the bridge.
Dental bridges have an impressive range of applications. Missing teeth can lead to several problems, including leaving many unhappy with their look.
There are four types of bridges:
- Traditional includes one or more artificial teeth cemented to both adjacent teeth through crowns.
- Cantilever features an artificial tooth connected to a single natural tooth via a crown.
- Maryland fuses artificial teeth to the back of surrounding teeth and is usually used to replace visible front teeth.
- Implant-supported are traditional bridges, strengthened by implants instead of being attached to natural teeth.
What Can I Expect When Getting a Crown?
Unless there is other dental work involved, you’ll usually visit your dentist twice for your crown.
1st visit: Expect your dentist to:
- Talk to you about the various crown options, the choice of which depends on such factors as the crown’s placement, your bite, your gum tissue, and, of course, your finances.
- Trim down the damaged tooth to make room for the crown to fit comfortably.
- Make an impression for the crown by having you bite into the impression paste placed on your trimmed tooth. This impression will go to a dental lab that’ll prepare your crown.
- Insert a temporary crown until your permanent crown returns from the dental lab.
2nd visit: Your dentist will remove the temporary crown and fit the permanent one, making sure it feels right before cementing it into place.
- If needed, a post may be required to build up your tooth before placing the crown.
- Ultimately, your crown should function just as your natural tooth would.
During The Procedure
How do Crowns Work?
When a crown caps a damaged, weak, or decaying tooth, it's generally to help maintain its size, strength, shape, and appearance. If you're missing a tooth, a dental professional will give you a dental implant, on top of which they will place your crown.
Your crown will be made from one, or a mixture, of various materials. Gold alloy and other metal alloy options tend to be durable and cost-effective, but they won't look much like your other teeth. Porcelain, acrylic, and ceramic crowns can more closely match your natural teeth. Acrylic and ceramic options are known to be durable.
Porcelain is a bit more prone to chipping and damage, but porcelain bonded to a metal shell can increase its strength while maintaining its attractive tooth-like aesthetic.
What Is the Dental Bridge Procedure?
Because the procedure involves multiple steps, installing a dental bridge takes more than one dental visit.
These are the steps typically taken to implant a traditional bridge:
· The dentist injects a local anesthetic into your gum near the site of the future bridge.
· The dentist prepares the supporting teeth through shaping by making room for a crown to be placed over them.
· The dentist creates an impression of your teeth.
· The dentist creates a temporary bridge or crown to protect your mouth. In contrast, a bridge is custom-made by a laboratory.
· The dentist removes your temporary bridge or crown and fits your new, permanent bridge.
· To ensure a perfect fit, the dentist may secure the bridge with cement for several weeks before permanent placement.
· Ask your dentist to see if a dental bridge is right for you and how it should fit.
How Do I Adjust to My New Dental Bridge?
Your new bridge may require a period of adjustment to get used to the new prosthetic or modified bite.
A modest amount of swelling or discomfort is typical after a dental procedure. Talk to your dentist if they persist or reach a concerning level. To help ease any discomfort, gargle with a mix of four ounces of warm water and one tablespoon of salt.
Fortunately, dental bridges can benefit your quality of life beyond your appearance, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
How Do I Care for My Dental Bridge?
- Dental hygiene is an essential factor in your bridge's long-term success. Take motivation from the fact that bridges can last over ten years with proper care.
- How long does it take for a dental bridge to settle? Only your dentist can advise on the exact amount of time.
- It's vital to care for your new bridge and also help the teeth your bridge is attached to remain healthy and strong. Decay and damage to these supporting teeth could lead to complications to your bridge.
Conditions
Here are some simple tips when caring for your new bridge:
- Brush twice daily for two minutes with a soft-bristled toothbrush and floss once daily
- Floss once daily and consider getting a proxabrush to clean effectively under your bridge.
- Use fluoride toothpaste and antiseptic mouth rinse
- East fruits and vegetables that are high in fiber
- Schedule regular visits with your dentist and dental hygienist
Things to avoid when you have a bridge:
- Hard and sticky items like caramel, nuts, popcorn kernels, candy, or ice
- Excessive intake of sugary or acidic food and drinks
- Smoking and tobacco products
Your new dental bridge should help you feel confident with your smile and dental health. You’re in a great place to maintain your bridge and supporting teeth to avoid any complications down the line. With the most challenging part out of the way, enjoy the benefits of your new bridge!
Conditions
FAQ
FAQ's for Teeth Whitening
1. How long should a bridge crown last?
4. How long can a crown take to heal?
The recovery period after the placement of a dental crown is typically a few days. Patients may experience some inflammation, sensitivity and irritation following the procedure that should subside within a week or two.
2. How do you care for a bridge and crown?
- Diet.
- Floss carefully.
- Avoid chewing gum.
- Brush your teeth regularly.
- Stay away from hot food/beverages.
- Chew on the opposite side of your mouth.
5. How to Clean a Dental Bridge
- Brush twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a non-abrasive paste
- Floss once daily with a water flosser
- Use a Waterpik to clean your dental bridge
Avoid bad habits like opening packages with our teeth and biting on hairpins - Visit dentist regularly
3. How many teeth can be in a bridge?
Dental bridges help replace one to four teeth, depending on our requirement. However, generally, people replace one or two teeth.