Crown and Bridge:
There are many reasons that a patient would be considered for crown and bridge restorations. Some of the reasons are as followed: Replace a large filling when there is not enough tooth structure remaining, Protect a weak tooth, Restore a fractured tooth, Attach a bridge, Cover a stained or defectively shaped tooth, Cover a tooth that has had root canal therapy & Cover a dental implant.
Both crowns and bridges are fixed prosthetic devices that are cemented onto existing teeth and/or implants, and can last a lifetime. A crown, historically called a “cap”, is used to cover and strengthen a damaged tooth, improve its appearance, and improve alignment. Porcelain or ceramic crowns are matched to the color of your natural tooth. Other materials that are used in conjunction to fabricate a crown are: metal alloys, gold, ceramic, and acrylic. High-noble gold is the strongest material used to fabricate a crown, and because of this, Dr. Cooper typically recommends gold for back teeth, so the crown has better longevity. The tooth is modified and prepared by using special dental instruments and tools. A copy of the tooth preparation is made by taking an impression (a mold of your teeth). The impressions are then sent off to our lab to fabricate a beautiful and natural looking tooth.
A bridge is typically recommended if you’re missing one or more teeth. Missing teeth can eventually cause the teeth around it to rotate and shift, which can result in a bad bite. The discrepancy caused by missing teeth can also lead to periodontal disease and TMJ disorders. Bridges are made similarly to crowns, with the exception of creating a replacement tooth, or pontic. The pontic is attached to your teeth by abutments, which are crowns that cover natural, prepared teeth. After a crown/bridge procedure you will have a temporary acrylic prosthetic made so that it can be worn while waiting for your permanent crown/bridge is being made.
