subject: Fixing Your Broken Smile With Crowns And Bridges [print this page] In the past, a broken tooth meant that your only option to restore your smile was to get dentures. Thanks to increases in dental technology, a missing tooth is no longer the major problem that it once was. If you need to get a tooth replaced or fixed, your dentist can easily repair your smile by installing either a crown or a bridge in your mouth. After getting your tooth restored with a crown or bridge, you or anyone else will not be able to notice that you have had your teeth restored.
Dental Crowns
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is put on top of an existing tooth to restores its size, strength and appearance. The crown can protect a weak tooth, restore a broken tooth, support a dental bridge or even cover severely discolored teeth. Crowns can be made from either metal or ceramic, depending on where in your mouth the crown will go.
After consulting with your dentist to make sure that a crown is the best option for you, he or she will begin the process by taking X-rays and then a mold of the area around your tooth. After examining the root of your tooth and making sure a root canal procedure should not be performed, your dentist will file down your tooth to make room for the crown to fit in your mouth. Your dentist will then install a temporary crown that you will wear while the impression is being created at a dental lab.
After about 2 or 3 weeks, your permanent crown will be ready and will be returned from the dental lab. After removing the temporary crown, your dentist will examine the permanent crown to make sure it fits and is colored correctly. If everything is how it's supposed to be, your dentist will then permanently cement your crown to fix your smile for good.
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge is designed to replace a missing tooth or teeth by creating a bridge across the gap in your teeth that is anchored by two crowns. After you and your dentist decide that a dental bridge is the right option for you, he or she will begin the process by preparing the two crowns that will serve as anchors for the bridge. He or she will file down those teeth to make room for the crowns then take impressions from which the bridge will be created. For a few weeks, you will wear a temporary bridge while your permanent bridge is being constructed. Once the new bridge comes in, your dentist will permanently cement it to your teeth and you can start enjoying your new permanent smile. With the proper care, dental bridges can last as long as 15 years and sometimes even longer.
To learn more about dental crowns and bridges or to schedule an appointment, contact your Tulsa dentist today.
