What are Dental Crowns?
A dental crown is a cap that surrounds the tooth. We typically use a crown to restore a damaged tooth, but they can also use it to improve the appearance of a smile.
A crown can consist of three different materials, all-metal, ceramic-on-metal and all-ceramic. The location of the crown in the teeth will determine the best material to use.
For example, if possible, front teeth need to have an all-ceramic crown since it looks the most natural. Patients may often use ceramic-on-metal crowns since they look natural but have the durability that only metal can provide.
What are Dental Bridges?
A dental bridge is a way to replace a missing tooth. At Balance Advanced Dentistry and Orthodontics, we provide clients with dental bridges if they want to replace a tooth without wearing dentures or undergoing surgery.
The new tooth is held in place by two crowns. It looks natural and has a ceramic or porcelain material to match the surrounding teeth. As a cosmetic dentist, Dr. Hernandez will make sure that the new tooth looks and feels amazing.
The Duluth Dental Crown & Bridge Process
When getting dental crowns and dental bridges installed, it is advisable that you work with a cosmetic dentist that knows how to complete the procedure in a way that looks natural. At Balance Advanced Dentistry and Orthodontics, we can do so while also working to keep our patients as comfortable as possible by using sedation dentistry.
The process for both procedures is fairly similar. Before getting started, an impression is taken of the teeth so that the new crown or bridge can be created in a dental lab.
When placing a dental crown around a tooth, Balance Advanced Dentistry and Orthodontics starts by preparing the tooth. We will need to remove a portion of the enamel so that there is room for the new crown to surround the tooth without pushing other teeth out of place.
Once complete, we will clean the tooth and secure a temporary crown to it using removable glue. Patients typically wear a temporary crown for around two weeks while waiting for a permanent one to be created in the lab.
During this time, it is important to be careful with what you eat and how you brush your teeth since the temporary is designed to come off. When the dental restoratives are complete, patients return to our Duluth dentist office, so that we can remove the temporaries and bond the permanent ones to the tooth.
We will secure the cap around the tooth and complete it for a dental crown through dental bonding. With a bridge, a crown is placed on the two teeth that surround the missing one.
On top of the crown is a piece that looks like natural gums that will hold the new tooth in place. These two crowns serve as anchors for this synthetic “bridge” and make a new tooth as durable as it can be.
Patients depend on this procedure as a way to replace missing teeth in a way that looks natural and restores the functionality of the missing tooth.