Crowns and Bridges

What Are Crowns and Bridges?

Dental crowns and bridges are two common forms of restorative dentistry that are used to repair or replace teeth that have been damaged or that are missing. A dental crown is a permanent cap that is put over a tooth to restore its strength, form, and size and are often made of porcelain or ceramic.

A bridge, on the other hand, is a dental prosthetic that is used to repair a gap produced by one or more missing teeth, by sandwiching the replacement teeth between two adjacent teeth or crowns. Bridges may be removable or permanent.

Advantages of Crowns and Bridges

Even though they are both restorative dental procedures, crowns and bridges have their own distinct advantages. Crowns assist to restore the biting and chewing surface, strength, and form of a tooth that has been damaged. Crowns can also assist in restoring and holding in place cracked or damaged teeth, replacing large or worn out fillings, restoring dental implants, and protecting teeth after a root canal. As the main structure and root of the tooth is left intact, crowns provide a protective cover to reduce further decay, through a minimally invasive procedure. Doing this affords patients an aesthetic and functional appearance with little recovery time.

Aside from restoring the aesthetic appearance of one’s smile, bridges also aid in long term oral health. When a patient suffers from missing teeth, this can negatively affect their chewing and speaking abilities. Bridges help fill the vacant gaps, thereby reducing pain and difficulties when eating and communicating, as one’s sensitive gums are no longer in direct contact with outside matter.

A gap can cause surrounding teeth to gradually shift, which can cause problems in one’s bite. Yet, when a bridge is used to replace the missing teeth, the adjacent teeth are held firmly in place. Additionally, a bridge can also help reduce the risk of bone loss from the jaw, therefore, maintaining natural face contours and shape.

Crowns and Bridges Procedure

In most cases, dental crowns or bridge requires two trips. First Dr. Youssef Lamjed  will prepare your tooth or teeth that are going to get the crown or bridge. This entails the removal of any decay or damaged tissue, as well as filing and contouring the tooth to provide space for the crown or bridge. Next, he will take imprints of your teeth, which will be used in the production of a crown or bridge, that is uniquely suited to your mouth, by sending the impressions to our dedicated lab. In the meantime, we may fashion you with a temporary removable crown or bridge to maintain aesthetics.

Once our lab has formulated the crown or bridge, you will come in for the fitting. During this appointment Dr. Youssef Lamjed will examine how the crown or bridge fits in your mouth, how it bites down, and make any required changes to ensure proper fit and comfortability. The doctor will then adhere the crown or bridge to your tooth using specialized dental cement or adhesive. After the crown or bridge has been placed, our team will instruct you on the required proper levels of oral hygiene needed to help maintain your new crown or bridge to ensure its longevity.