Crowns and Bridges
Dental crowns and bridges are restorations that correct dental problems while protecting and strengthening your teeth.
A dental crown is custom-made to fit over a damaged natural tooth. It restores the function of the tooth and provides strength and support. Dental bridges are also versatile and have several uses.
We usually create crowns and bridges out of porcelain because of its natural appearance and durability.
Everyone wants a smile that is healthy and beautiful, and we can help you reach that goal by using crowns and bridges. Updated techniques and treatments have made the placing of crowns and bridges easier than ever before.
When Are Dental Crowns and Bridges Used?
Dental crowns have many applications and can be used to correct many problems:
- Severely decayed teeth
- Teeth weakened by root canal treatment
- Fractured or broken teeth
- Broken fillings
- Large, unattractive fillings
A dental bridge is used to fill the space left by a missing tooth. The bridge is usually made as a single unit that is held in place by crowns on adjacent teeth. A dental bridge not only improves your appearance but also prevents surrounding teeth from shifting out of place and moving into the space left by a missing tooth.
What Does Placing a Crown or Bridge Involve?
A dental crown or bridge can usually be placed in two or three visits. First, we prepare your natural tooth to receive the restoration and then impressions are taken of your teeth. The impression accurately represents the position of your natural teeth so that your restoration fits perfectly.
We then send the impressions to a custom dental lab, where skilled technicians use them to create your permanent restoration, which usually takes about two weeks. Before you leave our office, we fit you with a temporary bridge or crown that you wear while the lab fabricates your new crown or bridge.
Once we receive your restoration back from the lab, we will schedule an appointment for you to return to our office. At that time we check the finished restoration for proper fit and make adjustments as necessary. Finally, the restoration is cemented permanently into place.
Before you leave our office, we will give you instructions on caring for your new restoration. The restoration is fully functional, but you should remember that it requires special care to prevent damage and the need for replacement. If you practice proper oral hygiene and schedule regular dental cleanings, your new restoration will last for many years.
Call to Schedule an Evaluation
Are you troubled by a damaged or missing tooth? Please call our office today to schedule an evaluation and learn more about your options!
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The best experience I’ve ever had at a dentist. They are caring, communicating clearly and never too busy to see me. Dr. Moon and his staff explained every single detail about what they are doing and why. I could feel that they truly care about me. The use of screen and camera helped visualize the problems with my teeth. Thank you, Hope dental, for your excellent care! I would highly recommend this place to anyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
A dental bridge is a very effective solution for filling the space left by a missing tooth. It is basically a single dental restoration that usually includes two dental crowns and a replacement tooth (pontic) that fills the empty space. The dental crowns are secured to adjacent teeth on either side of the empty space and provide support for the artificial tooth.
A fractured tooth is a tooth at risk. You may not even know a tooth is cracked or fractured, or you may feel pain or sensitivity when biting down or exposing the tooth to hot or cold temperatures. An endodontist specialist can diagnose and treat fractures in a tooth and damage to its inner pulp.
Treating fractured teeth is critical. With continuous pressure from chewing, the interior tissues of a tooth may be unable to heal, leading to irritation and even infection. These inner tissues, or pulp, include a tooth’s interior nerves, tissues, and blood vessels.
An endodontist specialist will treat a tooth fracture depending on its location and severity. A dental crown can usually protect teeth with small fractures above the gum line, and you can see your dentist for this type of restoration.
However, if the tooth has a crack below the gum line, you may need a root canal to treat the damaged pulp. Endodontists specialize in root canal treatment, preventing the fracture from spreading or even causing tooth loss. A dental crown completes the restoration.
If the tooth is severely damaged, an endodontist specialist may recommend endodontic surgery to save part of the tooth or an extraction. If the tooth needs extraction, your endodontist can discuss options for replacing the tooth, such as a dental implant.
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Kris Moon
Dentist
Dr. Kris Moon grew up in Seoul, South Korea, where he excelled in art, winning many prizes locally. He later immigrated to America, where he attended Azusa University and earned a degree in biology.
After accompanying dentists to Mongolia after college and watching them provide dental care for the underprivileged, he decided to become a dentist. His early days as an artist and working with his hands helped him shine at Case Western Reserve Dental School, where he earned many distinctions, including the Dean’s Award for academic excellence.
Today, Dr. Moon is ...