Dental Crowns & Bridges

Crowns

Dental crowns, or caps as they are sometimes called, are dental restorations that are used to restore and protect any of your teeth that are badly broken down, are discolored or have had root canal therapy. They are also used to prevent a cracked tooth from breaking and they may be used to improve your bite. Crowns are also used to attach bridges to your teeth or can be placed on implants, thus giving you a new tooth. They are made in the dental lab by a highly trained dental technician.

With modern dental materials we have a number of choices for material from which to make your crowns. Gold is a material which has been used for many years and has proven to make excellent crowns. It is strong and durable and if properly made will never break or crack. It may be recommended in areas where appearance is not a concern.

Sometimes crowns are made of a metal thimble-like structure called a coping, on top of which porcelain is fused. The technician shapes and colors the porcelain to look like your tooth. This is a very strong restoration but you can chip the porcelain if you grind your teeth or your bite is not correct.

Some of the newer types of dental crown materials are made of ceramic. These materials seem to be very strong, stronger than the porcelain fused to metal crown mentioned above.

Your tooth is prepared for a crown by trimming it so it is a little shorter and smaller around. An impression (mold) is made of your prepared tooth. This is sent to a dental lab where your crown is made. After the impression is made, a temporary crown is made to protect your tooth until the permanent crown is placed usually a few days later.

Bridges

Bridges are natural-looking dental restorations that can often be used to replace missing teeth. Properly made, a bridge is barely detectable. It should restore the natural contour of your smile as well as restore your bite in that area.

Since bridges are usually not removed for daily cleaning as a partial denture, they are also called "fixed partial dentures". They can be supported by natural teeth or by implants. The supporting teeth or implants are usually at or near either end of the bridge in order to support the bridge during chewing and eating.

Home Care of Crowns & Bridges

To care for your crowns or bridges you need to thoroughly remove the plaque from the crown or bridge in order to prevent decay from developing at the edges. Regular examinations and cleanings are very helpful in detecting any problems that may be developing with your restorations such as decay. Fluoride applied on your teeth is helpful in preventing decay from developing around your crowns. Dr. Weikum or one of his hygienists will make recommendations for fluoride when they see it would be helpful to you. Most of the time this can be done at home with a brush-on fluoride gel.