Dental Crowns and Bridges
A dental crown or bridge will beautify your smile and preserve the functionality of your teeth. Our dentist, Pedro Mora-Rosa, DDS, will perform the addition of a crown or bridge in two visits. The first visit begins with a numbing of the teeth using a local anesthetic. The dentist cleans the decay and plaque to prepare the adjacent teeth. These surrounding teeth might be slightly reduced in size to ensure the crown or bridge fits to perfection. The dentist then creates a mold of the teeth. This model is sent to a dental lab so your customized impression can be made.
The customized mold takes upwards of a week or to return to our dental practice. You will be provided with a treatment bridge or crown consisting of acrylic resin in the time between the point at which the mold is sent to the lab and the point at which the final crown or bridge is returned for placement. The crown or bridge is carefully adjusted to guarantee the optimal fit and bite. The dentist then permanently bonds the crown or bridge to your mouth. Moving forward, it is important that you keep the gum line and space by the structure perfectly clean. Continue to floss blow your teeth to maintain healthy and strong gums.
There are three common types of dental crowns:
All-Porcelain Crowns – This type has the most natural appearance and is the most popular. Made from porcelain lining, it is almost indistinguishable from natural teeth.
All-porcelain crowns are metal-free and durable.Gold Crowns – Gold crowns are appropriate when appearance is not a top priority and are mostly used on back teeth. They are durable and give a good chewing surface, but look unnatural.
Porcelain-fused-to-metal Crowns – Both are durable and have a very natural appearance.
A dental bridge is used to replace one or more missing teeth. It consists of dental crowns that are joined together supporting another crown that is replacing the missing tooth. It looks and feels very natural. This procedure can be completed in two visits.