Crowns & Bridges
Dental crowns (also known as dental caps) are dental restorations that are placed over a tooth when conservative restorations are insufficient to restore form and function.
A bridge serves to replace a missing tooth or teeth. One type of bridge consists of crowns placed on either side of the missing tooth to connect the replacement tooth or teeth to the crowns. Another type of bridge consists of the replacement tooth attached to the adjacent teeth with wing-like appendages. Bridges can also be supported by dental implants.
Both crowns and bridges can be made entirely of tooth-colored material, metal, or a combination of both to provide optimal aesthetics. Some metal-free crowns and bridges incorporate stress-bearing materials to enhance their strength and wear-resistance.
When Do You Need a Crown?
Dental crowns address aesthetic needs, restore tooth function, and enhance the overall health of your mouth. In cases where teeth have large, broken-down fillings, a crown can protect and preserve the remaining natural tooth around the area. To enhance your smile, a metal-free, tooth-colored crown can also replace an older metal/porcelain crown. Following root canal therapy, a crown is typically placed over the remaining tooth structure to preserve aesthetic and tooth function.
When Do You Need a Bridge?
In cases where teeth are missing, a dental bridge prevents the remaining natural teeth from shifting so that dental health and facial aesthetics are not compromised. Bridges may also provide a permanent, non-removable alternative to removable partial or full dentures. Whether supported by natural teeth or implants, bridges can offer life-like aesthetics and stable chewing surfaces. They can be easily maintained by brushing and flossing.
Teeth restored with a dental crown procedure by Dr. Pape.
Dental Crowns & Dental Bridges Procedure
With both crowns and bridges, Dr. Pape will reshape your teeth to provide stable support and precise fit of the final restoration. Following tooth preparation, we’ll take scans of your teeth and create replica of your mouth for the dental laboratory that will make the restoration. Dr. Pape will carefully discuss the color, shape, and size of the crown(s) or bridge(s) to ensure you’ll be pleased with the end result.
While the laboratory is creating your crown or bridge, we’ll place a temporary restoration to protect your prepared teeth and maintain the precise space left by the tooth until the new restoration is ready for placement. If an implant-supported crown or bridge is the best option, Dr. Pape will evaluate your health and suitability for the implant placement. Our team may also proceed with surgical planning or refer you to a specialist trained in implant surgery.
Once your crown or bridge is fabricated, Dr. Pape will remove your temporary restoration and test the crown or bridge to verify fit and receive your approval. Once the restoration is adjusted and approved, we use a luting cement or an adhesive bonding agent to permanently secure the final restoration.
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