What Are Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are like a snug cap for your tooth. Think of them as a protective shield over a damaged or discolored tooth. They’re custom-made to fit over the entire tooth surface, right to the gum line. Whether you have a decayed tooth or a root canal, a crown can help restore it to its former glory. At Southwest Dental Group, our crowns are crafted from high-quality materials, ensuring they look natural and are durable enough to withstand the daily wear and tear of chewing and biting.
How Do Bridges Work?
Now, let’s chat about bridges. If you’re missing one or more teeth and it’s affecting your confidence or how you chew, a dental bridge could be your new best friend. A bridge can fill the gap created by missing teeth. It anchors to the teeth on either side of the gap, called abutment teeth. We then cement the bridge into place. Bridges can be made from materials like crowns; we customize them to blend seamlessly with your other teeth.
The Lifelong Benefits
You might be wondering why you should consider crowns or bridges. Besides improving your smile’s appearance, these dental restorations are vital in maintaining oral health. Covering and protecting a damaged tooth, crowns help prevent further decay and contribute to a stronger bite. Similarly, bridges help prevent your remaining teeth from shifting out of place, which could eventually lead to more severe dental issues. Plus, they help maintain the shape of your face by supporting your jaw structure.
The Treatment Process
At Southwest Dental Group, we ensure the process is as smooth and comfortable as possible. It usually starts with a consultation, where you discuss your goals and examine your dental health. We’ll proceed with the prep work if crowns or bridges are right for you. For crowns, this involves shaping the problematic tooth to make room for the crown. Don’t worry; we provide a temporary crown to protect your tooth while your permanent one is being made.
For bridges, the process is similar—preparing the abutment teeth so they can securely hold the bridge. We can fit you in with a temporary bridge during this time. When your permanent crown or bridge is ready, thoroughly cleaning your teeth and cementing the fixture is simple. Before you leave, we ensure everything fits just right so you can return to smiling confidently and chewing comfortably.
Caring for Your Crowns & Bridges
Just like natural teeth, crowns, and bridges require regular care to keep them in great shape. Good oral hygiene is key; this means brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and regularly visiting us for check-ups and cleanings. It’s also important to avoid habits that might damage your dental work, such as using your teeth to open packages or biting into hard candies. With proper care, crowns and bridges can last many years and enhance your oral health and quality of life.
Why Southwest Dental Group?
Choosing the proper dental practice for your crown and bridge needs makes all the difference. At Southwest Dental Group, we pride ourselves on personalized care and exceptional service. Our team is skilled experienced and passionate about making your experience as comfortable and positive as possible. We invest in the latest dental technology to ensure our treatments are effective and performed with precision.
Crowns and Bridges in Duncan
Are you ready to explore how crowns and bridges in Duncan can enhance your smile? At Southwest Dental Group, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Whether you have questions, need advice, or want to book an appointment with Dr. Rob Schick, our friendly team is just a phone call away. We can’t wait to meet you and help you achieve the smile you’ve always dreamed of. Remember, a healthy smile is a confident smile! Call us today to arrange your consultation and see why so many have trusted us with their dental care.
In areas of your mouth that are under less stress, such as your front teeth, a cantilever bridge can be considered.
Cantilever bridges are used when there is a very strong tooth, with a good root on one side of the open space. Bridges can reduce your risk of gum disease, help correct some bite issues, restore function and even improve your speech. They will stop the teeth on either side and opposing the missing tooth from the movement that will create bigger more expensive problems to solve later. Bridges require your commitment to serious oral hygiene but will last many years with the proper care.
How is a dental bridge accomplished?
Dr. Schick will prepare your teeth on either side of the space for the false tooth. You will be given a mild anesthetic to numb the area, and he will prepare by reducing the size of each abutment (teeth on either side of the space) to accommodate for the thickness of the crown. When these teeth already have fillings, part of the filling may be left in place to help as a foundation for the crown. If the fillings are old they will be replaced so we do not place a new bridge over unseen active decay.
Dr. Schick will then make an impression, which will serve as the model from which the bridge will be made by a dental laboratory. A temporary bridge will be placed for you to wear, while your bridge is being made, until your next visit. This temporary bridge will serve to protect your teeth and gums and hold the space from movement by the abutment teeth.
If the missing tooth is an anterior tooth and you desire a temporary appliance while healing from a recent or treatment-planned extraction, a Flipper appliance with 1-2 teeth can be fabricated in advance of the extractions. A Flipper is a false tooth to temporarily take the place of a missing tooth before the permanent bridge is placed. A Flipper is a small denture-type plastic piece that fits in the roof of your mouth with the missing teeth. Flippers are meant to be a temporary solution while awaiting the permanent bridge and are cosmetic only and not for biting.
On your second appointment, the temporary bridge will be removed. Your new permanent bridge will be fitted, checked, and adjusted for any bite discrepancies. Your new bridge will then be cemented to your teeth.
