subject: Dental Crowns And Bridges- What You Should Know [print this page] Chances are, at some point in your life you will find yourself in a situation that requires some sort of dental restoration. Whether you have a chipped, cracked or even a knocked out tooth, your dentist has the full capability to restore your broken smile. Thanks to advances in modern dentistry, your dentist has several effective methods to improve your smile. Some of the most popular and effective methods are dental crowns and dental bridges. Don't hesitate to see you dentist immediately if you think you are in need of any type of a dental restoration.
Dental Crowns
If you have a tooth that is cracked, broken or otherwise disfigured, your dentist may restore the tooth through the use of a dental crown. A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is directly installed on top of your tooth to improve its size, shape, strength and/or appearance. To put a crown in, your dentist will first anesthetize the area and then have to reduce the size of the tooth in order to ensure that there is enough room for your crown to fit comfortably. After this, your dentist will take an impression of the area in order to create a crown that will fit in perfectly with your bite. The impression is then sent to a dental lab, where it will generally take between two and three weeks for your final crown to be created. In between appointments, your dentist will provide you with a temporary crown to wear.
Once your permanent crown arrives, your dentist will do a final check to make sure the fit and coloring are correct. If they are, he or she will use a special cement to permanently attach the crown. Once a crown is put in, it will both function and look like any of your natural teeth.
Dental Bridges
While a dental crown is used to correct a broken, chipped or otherwise disfigured tooth, a dental bridge is used to fully replace a lost tooth. A bridge is an artificial tooth that is held in place on either side by dental crowns. To put a bridge in, your dentist will anesthetize the area and reduce the size of the two teeth that will receive crowns. An impression is then taken of the area in order to create your final bridge. Just like a crown procedure, your dentist will give you a temporary bridge to wear. After about two to three weeks of wearing the temporary bridge, your dentist will use a special cement to attach your permanent one. Once put in, a bridge generally will last about 15 years.
To learn more about dental crowns or bridges or to schedule an appointment, contact your dentist in Cape Cod today.
