Beautiful Dentistry
General Dentistry located in Rowland Heights, CA
If you’ve ever been told you have a cavity, you may have discussed the option of treating it with something called a crown. Millions of Americans today have either crowns or bridges, and they’re an effective way to treat both cavities and missing teeth. We bring our vast experience and knowledge to provide our patients with expert care in installing and managing crowns or bridges. Schedule a consultation online or by phone today to find out if either of these options is right for you.
Crowns and Bridges Q & A
What are crowns and bridges?
When a tooth has sustained a large enough cavity, much of its strength is lost and it’s too fragile for daily use. Instead of extracting the tooth, a crown can be placed over it, restoring the strength and natural look of your smile.
A bridge is similar to a crown, but the main difference is that a bridge is used to help replace missing teeth. A bridge is usually two crowns that hold on to a “dummy” tooth in the middle. This “dummy” tooth sits right on top of your gums to appear as natural as possible, and can sometimes function as an alternative to dental implants.
Why would I need a crown?
First you’ll have a consultation and discuss your situation with our team of experts, and if needed they may recommend a crown for any of the following reasons:
- To protect a weak tooth from damage
- Replace a filling
- Restore a discolored tooth
- Cover a tooth that had a root canal
- Attach to a bridge
Crowns can be used for many reasons, most often to improve a tooth’s strength, shape, or appearance.
Why would I need a bridge?
If you’re missing any teeth, you’re among the millions of Americans experiencing the same situation. A bridge is an alternative option to implants or dentures to address missing teeth.
Once attached to the neighboring crowns and rooted into place, the bridge appears as a normal tooth, improving your confidence and the appearance of your smile. In addition, speaking and eating are easier with a bridge compared to having a missing tooth.
How long do bridges and crowns last?
Practicing good dental hygiene is very important in helping your crowns and bridges last a long time. Often, they can last a lifetime with no problems. However, issues can arise if the teeth surrounding a bridge experience dental disease.
Brushing and flossing are very important, just as with regular teeth. In addition, regular checkups are important to maintaining good oral health.
To learn more about crowns and bridges and whether they may be right for you, contact our team online or by phone today to schedule your consultation.
A brief animation depicting the preparation for and application of a dental crown.
A brief animation depicting the preparation for and application of a dental bridge.