subject: Dental Crowns And Bridges- What You Need To Know [print this page] Chances are, at some point in your life you will find yourself in a situation where you have a broken or chipped tooth. You may even get an entire tooth knocked out or need to be replaced. Thanks to modern dental techniques, your dentist has several options to effectively restore your smile. Some of the most popular methods of doing so is with dental crowns or bridges. Talk to your Orland Park dentist today if you think your teeth need to be restored with a dental crown or bridge.
Dental Crowns
If you have a single tooth that is chipped or broken, your dentist will probably decide to fix the problem with a dental crown. A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is directly installed on top of a tooth to improve its size, strength, shape and/or appearance. To put a crown in, your dentist will first anesthetize the tooth and file it down in order to create enough room for your new crown to fit in with your teeth. After this, he or she will take an impression of the area in order to create a crown that will fit in perfectly with the rest of your teeth. This impression is then sent to a dental lab where it will usually take between two and three weeks for your permanent crown to be created. In between appointments, your dentist will give you 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 permanently cement the crown into place and the procedure will be complete. Once put in, a crown will both look and function like any of your natural teeth.
Dental Bridges
While a dental crown is used to restore a tooth, a dental bridge is utilized to replace a missing tooth. A bridge is an artificial replacement tooth that is held in place on either side by dental crowns. To put a bridge in, your dentist will begin by filing down the two teeth that will receive crowns. After this, he or she will take an impression of the area. Just like a crown procedure, you will wear a temporary bridge in the few weeks between appointments while your bridge is constructed. Once your bridge arrives, your dentist will examine it to make sure it fits in perfectly with your teeth. After making any adjustments, he or she will permanently attach your bridge to your teeth. On average, a bridge will last about 15 years.
To learn more about dental crowns or bridges or to schedule an appointment, contact your dentist in Orland Park as soon as you can.
