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Crowns, Bridges, and Veneers

If you have a damaged or decayed tooth, our dentists can help you choose the best solution. Crowns and bridges are custom-fitted tooth prosthetics that function and look like natural, healthy teeth. Veneers are a less invasive alternative, but may only be a solution for those with slight tooth damage or discoloration. These thin porcelain or resin shells come in customizable colors and are bonded to the surface of your teeth.

 

Crowns

A crown, also known as a cap, is custom-fitted to your bite and is placed over your natural tooth or dental implant. This procedure is recommended for teeth that are badly damaged or decayed, but still have an intact tooth without decay below the gum line . Crowns on dental implants are used to replace a missing tooth; this has to be preceded by placement of dental implants into space left in the jaw by the missing tooth.

This patient treatment video, created by BlueSkyBio, will demonstrate the dental procedure of placing a crown. A crown is a type of dental restoration which completely caps or encircles a tooth or dental implant. Crowns are often needed when a large cavity threatens the ongoing health of a tooth. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_crown)

Procedure for crowns on natural teeth:

  1. We will reduce the problematic tooth for a proper crown fit

  2. An impression will be taken of your bite for crown fabrication

  3. The color of porcelain prosthetics can then be customized

  4. We will fit you with a temporary crown until the lab makes your permanent one

  5. You will come in again for permanent crown fitting

Bridges

To replace a missing toot/teeth that has neighboring teeth with decay and/or large fillings, or a tooth that has been missing for a long time (i.e., with gum recession around the area), bridges are offered as an alternative to dental implants.

Types of Bridges:

  • Traditional — Crowns are bonded over teeth that lie on either side of the missing one, with a prosthetic tooth closing the gap attached to the crowns on the neighboring teeth
  • Cantilever — A crown is bonded over a single tooth next to the missing one, with a prosthetic tooth attached to the crown to fill the gap. 
  • Resin-bonded(also known as Maryland-type bridges) — Porcelain or plastic teeth with gums that are supported by metal “wings” are bonded to the adjacent teeth

Bridges can also be used on dental implants to fill larger gaps. Bridges on multiple implants can  even be used to replace all the teeth in a jaw, in selected cases. 

 

Veneers

If you’re looking to cosmetically correct or enhance the appearance of one or more teeth, we suggest veneers. They are very thin, porcelain or resin shells that you can customize in color and shape. They are minimally-invasive, resistant to future stains and can last a very long time with proper maintenance and care.

Common uses for veneers:

  • Chipped or broken teeth
  • Misshapen or irregular teeth
  • Teeth that do not respond to traditional whitening treatments
  • Closing small gaps

Our practice uses digital smile analysis to optimally plan each case, making our results more predictable and our patients very happy.