Dental Crowns and Bridges

Dental Crowns and Bridges

Dental crowns and bridges are prosthetic devices that cemented into the remaining teeth or implants by the dentist. They offer patients teeth restoration by covering their damaged or missing teeth. It helps improve the tooth’s shape, appearance, and functions such as biting and chewing.

Crown and bridges also aid in preventing the shifting of the remaining teeth due to the gap that was left by the missing tooth. Upon consulting with your dentist, they will examine and analyze whether a dental crown or bridge will be placed.

Dental Crowns

A dental crown is placed to cover a damaged tooth. It not only helps improve a tooth’s appearance, alignment, and shape but also strengthens it. Crowns are placed over on the existing tooth or an implant to provide a better appearance and function. It can be made with different materials such as porcelain, metal alloys, and acrylic.

The dentist will often advise the patient to have a dental crown due to these reasons:

• Restoring a damaged tooth which has been broken due to external factors
• Protecting a weak tooth to prevent it from having further damage or breaking
• Covering a tooth with a large filling due to a gap
• Covering discolored or misshaped tooth
• Covering dental implants
• To be able to hold a bridge together
• Improve appearance and functions

Types of Crowns

There are many types of crown that can be placed on your tooth. Below are the following:

• Stainless steel: this type of crowns is usually used for children as they are used for temporary measures. It is used for protecting the tooth while a permanent crown is being made.
• Metals: This is made up of alloys that have a high content of gold or platinum. It is very durable and is able to withstand biting and chewing. Though it rarely breaks and chips, its color is very noticeable which is why used mostly for inner molars.
• Porcelain-Fused-To-Metal: This crown resembles the color of the natural teeth but may easily break or chip. These are usually placed at the front or back teeth and long bridges to offer strength due to its metal.
• Resin: This type of crown is cheaper compared to other types but can easily wear down and break.
• Ceramic: Ceramic crowns are more natural looking and are preferred by people who have metal allergies.

Bridges

Bridges are placed when the patient has one or more missing teeth. They replace the missing teeth by filling the gap that was left by the missing teeth. It prevents the existing teeth from shifting to the empty space of the gap. The bridge is cemented into an implant or the natural teeth to fill the surrounding space. The abutments act as an anchor for the bridge. Finally, a pontic, also known as a replacement tooth, is placed to the crown to cover the abutments.

Caring for Dental Crowns and Bridges

To make dental crowns and bridges last for a long time, it is important to know how to care for it properly. Below are the tips:

• Avoid chewing or biting hard objects and foods.
• Refrain from chewing ice and candy
• Maintain good oral hygiene by regularly brushing your teeth every meal
• Avoid eating extremely hot or cold foods
• Do not eat sticky food such as gum, caramel, etc.
• Visit the dentist regularly to check your teeth’s health.