Dental Crowns & Bridges
Improve Natural Tooth Function and Appearance with Dental Crowns
Damage and decay make natural teeth incredibly vulnerable. Protecting the remaining tooth structure and reinstating proper functionality may be too much to ask of a regular filling. In these instances, we often recommend dental crowns.
A crown is both a restorative and cosmetic dental prosthesis. These popular restorations are custom-made to fit over your remaining natural tooth, like a well-fitting cap. Though often used to restore function to a natural tooth, crowns are also popular with our dental implant treatments.
We have the crown made to our specifications at a trusted dental laboratory, so it fits, feels, functions, and looks spectacular. Our patients love the uniform results we offer them with dental crowns, and our diligent dentists ensure the crown adheres securely and you are happy with this protective restoration’s aesthetic results and functionality.
The Many Advantages of Crowns
- Repair a damaged or broken tooth
- Hide the results of bruxism (teeth grinding)
- Cover a tooth following root canal treatment
- Enhance the appearance of your smile
- Attach to a dental implant via a device known as an abutment
Options for Dental Crown Materials
Stainless Steel
Metal
Ceramic
Porcelain-fused-to-metal
Dental Crown Placement at our Dundee Practice
During your first visit, we prepare the treatment site by removing the damaged tooth structure and shaping the tooth to fit your custom crown. We will take digital imaging of your tooth and treatment area using our state-of-the-art in-house technology or traditional impressions. Until your permanent crown is ready, we place a temporary crown in its place.
We will fit your new crown at your second appointment. We start by cleaning the treatment area and then checking the crown’s fit, appearance, and feel. If you are happy with the new crown and it meets our rigorous standards, we permanently cement the crown in place.
Dental Bridges: An Aesthetic Solution for Missing Teeth
Dental bridges are single-piece restorations of an artificial tooth fused between dental crowns. These prostheses anchor to the mouth via abutment teeth on either side of the gap or dental implants. A bridge helps keep the remaining teeth in position, reinstates the functionality of a missing tooth, and aids in cosmetic enhancement.
Dental Bridges Offer Several Benefits to Your Smile
- Enhancing your appearance by filling the gap of a missing tooth (or teeth)
- Making it easier to chew food
- Enabling better enunciation when speaking
- Maintaining your face shape by preventing bone deterioration
- Preventing surrounding teeth from changing position
Types of Bridges
- Traditional Fixed Bridge. This bridge is the most common and comprises a false tooth with crowns on both ends.
- Cantilever Bridge. This bridge uses an artificial tooth that only attaches to one crown.
- Resin-Bonded Bridge. This bridge replaces missing front teeth. Instead of crowns, the bridge attaches using a special framework and wings.
- Implant-Supported Bridge. This bridge is similar to a traditional bridge but is held in place by implants.
What to Expect During Your Dental Bridge Treatment
Similar to dental crowns, our traditional tailor-made bridges also take at least two appointments (possibly more if a tooth requires extraction).
At your first appointment, we prepare your abutment teeth, shaping them to fit the crowns on either side of your bridge. We take impressions or other images with our in-house digital dental tools and send the information to the detail-oriented dental lab. To protect the abutment teeth, we provide you with a temporary bridge as we await the arrival of your permanent bridge.
During the second appointment, we remove the temporary bridge and place the permanent one. You can trust that our dentists adhere to high standards regarding your bridge’s look, feel, and fit.