Dental Services

Crowns

Crowns are dental restorations otherwise known as "caps", which are coverings that fit over the teeth. Crowns may be necessary because of broken down old fillings, fractured, chipped or sensitive teeth. Crowns are also used to improve the appearance of natural teeth that are malformed, malpositioned, or discolored.

Crowns are made of natural looking porcelain and are made to improve your overall smile or to blend in with your own teeth. Sometimes an underlying metal shell is used under the porcelain if additional strength is needed.

Some indications for a crown are:

  • A previously filled tooth where there now exists more filling than tooth. The existing tooth structure becomes weakened and can no longer support the filling.
  • Extensive damage by decay
  • Discolorations and compromised esthetics
  • Fractures
  • Root Canal- After root canal, teeth tend to become brittle and are more apt to fracture. These teeth need to be protected by a crown.

Fitting a crown requires at least two appointments. During your first visit, the tooth is prepared for a crown, an impression or mold is made of the tooth, and a temporary crown is placed over the prepared tooth. At the subsequent visit, the temporary crown is removed and the final crown is fitted and adjusted and cemented into place.

BRIDGES
When teeth are missing and there are teeth on either side of the space a bridge is one way to replace the missing teeth. This is called a bridge because it bridges the open space.

The space left from missing teeth may cause one of several problems. Teeth may drift into the space changing your bite; this changed bite may result in sore jaws, gum disease, or decay (due to more difficult hygiene).

A fixed bridge is used to replace one or several teeth. The teeth on each end of the space are used as anchors (abutments). Bridges are not removable by the guest. As other types of crowns (caps), a bridge can be made of metal or porcelain, or a combination of these two.

To prepare a bridge, diagnostic models are taken to study the optimum way to perform this procedure. After studies are completed, the teeth used to attach the bridge are carefully reshaped. Impressions are taken and from these impressions, the bridge is made by a certified dental technician. The laboratory time is usually 1 to 2 weeks; during this time a temporary acrylic bridge is cemented to place.

Care for Bridges
Brush and floss daily all areas around the bridge. It is not possible to floss between the replacement tooth and the attaching crowns (it is made as one solid piece). In order to solve this problem, it is necessary to use a special type of floss to go under the replacement tooth and keep this area of gum tissue healthy.