Millions of people every year go through the ordeal of severely damaging or losing a tooth. The situation is usually very troubling. Healthy teeth are essential for a beautiful smile, and they are important for chewing and speaking. One of the best ways to treat the problem is with dental crowns and bridgework. At Independent Dental Care, we take great pride in providing crowns and bridges that resemble natural teeth and offer excellent function overall.
Any patient who requires a crown or bridgework will need to make at least two visits to our clinic. This is because crowns and bridges are custom restorations that must be built in a dental laboratory. During the first visit, impressions will be taken of the patient’s teeth. These impressions will then be forwarded to a dental laboratory so that the restoration can be built. Once the restoration is ready, the patient will return for a follow-up visit to have the crown or bridge fitted. The custom design of crowns and bridges helps to ensure that they fit properly and provide the best possible function for the patient. It also allows the restoration to blend in better with the patient’s other teeth.
We offer crowns and bridges made from porcelain and zirconia. Porcelain is a strong material that resembles natural teeth. This type of material is often used for restorations in the front of the mouth. Zirconia restorations are incredibly strong and are often recommended for the restorations in the back of the mouth. We will help you determine which is right for you.
Crowns
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped appliance that is used to cover a severely damaged tooth or replace a missing tooth. If the crown is restoring or protecting an existing tooth, it will “cap” the structure and prevent it from experiencing further damage. But if the crown is replacing a missing tooth, then a dental implant will need to be installed to support the dental crown. Another common application for crowns is to use them as abutments, or supporting structures, for dental bridges. All of our crowns are custom-built so that they provide strong performance for the patient and fit in well with their other teeth.
Some prep work is needed before a crown can be applied. If the crown is restoring a tooth, some of the tooth enamel on the structure will need to be removed first. This will make room for the crown and allow it to fit better. If the crown is replacing a tooth, a dental implant must be installed. This can be completed with a minimally invasive oral surgery. The new crown can then be fitted to the supporting structure.
Bridges
Dental bridges are provided for patients who are missing multiple teeth in a row. This type of restoration consists of two dental crowns at the “ends” and one or more natural-looking prosthetic teeth in the middle. The crowns, or abutments, provide support for the rest of the structure, and the replacement teeth in the center will “bridge” the gap created by the missing teeth. Both the bridge and the abutments are custom-made so that they provide the best possible performance for the patient and fit in well with their other teeth. With the strong support provided from the dental crowns on the ends, a dental bridge should never come loose.
If you are suffering from lost or damaged teeth, then a crown or a bridge may be the perfect solution for you. A visit to Independent Dental Care is the first step in receiving a top-quality restoration at an affordable price. Please call us at (239) 437-8900 to schedule an appointment.
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