Crowns and bridges are dental restorations designed to address damaged or missing teeth. A crown is a cap that fits over a damaged tooth, restoring its shape, size, strength, and appearance. A bridge, on the other hand, is used to replace one or more missing teeth by anchoring to adjacent natural teeth or implants. Both procedures are performed by a dental professional and typically require multiple appointments for proper planning and execution.
Assessing Your Smile
To start, your dentist will conduct an examination to determine if crowns and bridges are right for you. They will visually and manually examine your teeth, gums, and surrounding bone structure. Your dentist will also take X-rays to check the condition of the roots and bone below the gum line.
If the examination reveals any decay in the supporting teeth or compromised bone support, your dentist must address these issues first. This helps build a foundation before proceeding with the restoration. After treating any underlying issues, your dentist can proceed with the crown or bridge procedure.
Preparing the Teeth
Once your treatment plan is finalized, the dentist will prepare the teeth for the restoration. This process involves several key steps:
- Administering Anesthesia: Local anesthesia is administered to numb the area, making sure the patient remains comfortable during the procedure.
- Reshaping the Tooth: The dentist removes a portion of the enamel from the designated teeth. This creates space for the crown or bridge to fit properly without affecting your bite. The amount of tooth structure removed depends on the restoration material used (e.g., porcelain or metal).
- Building Up the Core: If a tooth is severely damaged or broken, the dentist may need to build up its core with filling material. This makes sure that the tooth is strong enough to support the crown.
Taking Impressions
Once the dentist reshapes your teeth, they must create an accurate model of your mouth to fabricate the permanent restoration. Your dentist takes an impression of the prepared teeth using a digital scanner or a putty-like material. This impression captures the exact dimensions of the area and the specific relationship between your upper and lower jaws. Your dentist then sends the mold or digital file to a dental laboratory, where technicians craft your custom restoration.
Placing Temporaries
While the dental laboratory crafts your custom restoration, your dentist will provide a temporary solution to protect the prepared teeth and maintain functionality:
- Fabrication: A temporary crown or bridge is fashioned from acrylic or composite to cover the exposed tooth structure.
- Protection: These temporaries shield teeth from sensitivity and prevent them from shifting out of position.
- Maintenance: Because they are secured with temporary cement, you should avoid sticky or hard foods to prevent dislodging.
- Functionality: These restorations allow you to eat and speak normally while you wait for your permanent restoration.
Fitting the Restoration
When the permanent crown or bridge arrives from the laboratory, your dentist will remove the temporary restoration to begin the final fitting. Your dentist places the new restoration over the prepared teeth to check the fit, color, and bite alignment, and may make adjustments to correct contact points or improve the bite surface. Once you and your dentist verify the fit, your dentist permanently cements the restoration into place.
Schedule Your Crowns and Bridges
Properly fitted restorations can last for many years with diligent oral hygiene and regular checkups. If you have damaged or missing teeth, discussing crowns and bridges with a dentist is the next step. Maintaining these restorations involves brushing twice a day and flossing daily to avoid decay at the margins. Contact a dentist to book a consultation and begin the restoration process.
