subject: Dental Bridges And Crowns Can Restore Your Broken Smile [print this page] Having a chipped, broken or knocked out tooth can be a very stressful event. Luckily, modern dental techniques have advanced to the point where your dentist will be able to restore your smile very easily and effectively. There are a few different options for restoring your smile, but dental crowns and dental bridges are among the most common options that your dentist may use. Within a few short and easy appointments, your dentist will be able to fully repair your smile and return your bright smile.
Dental Crowns
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is directly installed over a tooth in order to improve its strength, size, shape and/or appearance. Once you and your dentist have decided that a dental crown is the best option for you, he or she will begin the process by applying anesthetic to the area. After this, he or she will file down your tooth in order to make enough room for the new crown to fit comfortably in your mouth. After this is complete, he or she will take an impression of your tooth 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 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 so you do not have to have a gap in your teeth.
Once your permanent crown arrives from the dental lab, your dentist will do one last check to make sure the fit and coloring are correct. If they are, he or she will then permanently cement the crown into place. After it is installed, the crown will both look and function as a normal tooth in your mouth.
Dental Bridges
While crowns are used to repair teeth that have been chipped or broken, a dental bridge is used to replace a missing tooth. A bridge consists of a replacement artificial tooth that is held in place on both sides by dental crowns. To install a bridge, 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 entire area. When your bridge is being created at a dental lab, your dentist will be able to provide you with a temporary bridge to wear. After your final bridge arrives, your dentist will check it for fit and color and make any necessary adjustments. After the bridge is installed, it will usually last for at least 15 years or longer in some cases.
To learn more about dental crowns or bridges, schedule an appointment with your Hazel Park dentist as soon as you can.
