Crown and Bridge
For decades, dentists have used a dental crown to repair a damaged tooth and combined crowns with bridges to replace missing teeth. Crowns are permanently bonded to your teeth, so you never have to worry about a denture that comes loose or the need to remove your prosthesis for cleaning. With dental crowns, Peabody residents have the choice of restoring a damaged or filling in the gap left behind by tooth loss in order to rejuvenate a smile.
What is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown—which is also called a cap—is actually used for a number of restorative needs and may also be appropriate for some cosmetic treatments, too. A crown can be used to:
- Protect a tooth that has been treated for a large cavity or root canal
- Prevent a tooth with a deep crack from splitting
- Build up a tooth that is abnormally worn down
- Anchor a dental bridge in place
- Complete a dental implant restoration
- Transform a tooth that is permanently stained or misshaped
Dr. Saati usually recommends a crown made of porcelain fused to metal for its strength and aesthetic appeal. Once bonded into place, no one will be able to tell that you have a tooth with a crown.
Receiving a crown usually takes only two visits to the dentist. At the first, Dr. Saati delivers a local anesthetic and then gently removes any decay as well as a small portion of the tooth structure. This must be done to make room for the crown and to ensure that your bite remains the same.
You’re then given a temporary crown to wear while our dental lab constructs the permanent one based on an exact impression of your tooth.
What is a Dental Bridge?
Dental bridges fill in the gap left behind by missing teeth. A bridge may contain one or more false teeth, also called pontics. Together with two dental crowns, a bridge provides a permanent tooth replacement.
The dental crowns are mounted on teeth that abut the gap in your smile. They support the pontics that are suspended across the space of missing teeth.
Caring for Your Crown and Bridge
Your new crown and bridge can last a lifetime—especially if you practice good oral hygiene. Be sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss all of your teeth as well as alongside the dental crowns. Your dentist in Peabody will give you a special floss threader that will allow you to clean underneath the bridge, so you can remove food particles and plaque there, too.