Crown & Bridges
Crown and bridges are fixed devices. So, once they are implanted into your mouth, they are there to stay. Dentures and similar devices are removable, but bridges and crowns are not. They are permanently cemented into your mouth and can only be removed by a dentist.
Unlike dentures, crowns and bridges cannot be removed for cleaning purposes. In fact, patients can treat them like normal teeth. Even though crowns and bridges are considered dental implants, proper dental hygiene is still important for the care and maintenance of your teeth and dental implants.
You may benefit from a crown or a bridge if you have one or more of the following issues with your teeth:
- Teeth that have been chipped or broken, or need to be fixed and replaced
- Root canals that require a crown to cover the repaired tooth
- Strengthen and hold together cracked or otherwise weakened teeth
- Hold dental bridges in place
Dental Crown and Dental Bridge Procedure
The process of getting a dental crown usually involves multiple visits to the dentist and tooth preparation. During the first visit, the tooth is prepared by removing any decay or damaged tooth portions, and it is reshaped to accommodate the crown. An impression or digital scan of the prepared tooth is taken, which is then sent to a dental lab where the custom crown is fabricated. In the meantime, a temporary crown may be placed to protect the tooth. Once the final crown is ready, it is cemented onto the prepared tooth during a subsequent appointment, providing long-lasting and highly durable fillings.
The process of getting a dental bridge typically requires multiple dental visits. In the initial visit, the abutment teeth are prepared by removing a portion of their enamel to accommodate the crowns. Similar to the process of getting a dental crown, impressions or digital scans are taken and sent to a dental laboratory, where the implanted supported bridge is custom-made. During the second visit, the temporary bridge may be placed, and the final bridge is cemented or bonded into place once it is ready.
TYPES OF CROWNS & BRIDGES
ALL METAL
These are one of the first bridges to be used in dentistry. They are still used, but only for the back teeth where aesthetics do not matter as much. They provide great stability and durability.
ALL CERAMIC
All ceramic bridges remove the metal element from Porcelain fused to metal bridges and therefore give superior aesthetics.
PORCELAIN FUSED TO METAL
Porcelain fused to metal bridges are aesthetically superior to all metal bridges. These bridges have a layer of porcelain on top of the metal bridge. The layer is shade matched with your teeth.
ZIRCONIA
The material combines ceramic’s aesthetics and metal’s strength. Zirconia is also very bio-compatible and has no adverse reactions to being placed in your mouth.
How do Bridges Work?
Whereas crowns can repair damaged teeth, a bridge's sole function is to replace one or more missing teeth. For a bridge, your dental professional will place caps on filed-down teeth or dental implants at the outer edges of your area of loss. Replacement teeth (called pontics) span the space between the caps where the teeth are missing.
Just like with dental crowns, you have a choice of materials available to you for your bridge. Your dental professional is in the best position to advise you in your material choice base on your individual needs. However, you'll both want to consider and discuss multiple factors like the visibility of the tooth, the cost, the strength, and how it looks.
How are Crowns Made?
If you're getting a crown for a damaged or decayed tooth, your dental professional will make an impression of your bite. From that model, they will be able to determine the best shape for your new tooth. Often, the model for your bite needs to be sent to a lab where they will create your crown, which can take a few weeks. Some dental offices can make crowns in their offices depending on the material you choose and whether they have the required equipment. If your dental professional has CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Drafting/Computer-Aided Manufacturing) capabilities and you're capping an existing, damaged tooth, you could get your crown in a single dental visit.
How are Bridges Made?
Before your dental professional can have your bridge made, the teeth at the outer edges of the area of loss will be reduced in size so that your bridge will fit on them properly – unless, of course, they place the bridge on implants. Like with a crown, your dental professional will then take an impression to provide an exact mold for the bridge. Using this impression, your dental office will either create your bridge in-office or send the model to a dental lab. Your dental professional will use temporary crowns or bridges to cover the prepared teeth while the lab makes your bridge.