Crowns & Bridges

Crowns and bridges are restorative techniques used to repair or replace a tooth.

A crown is used to repair a damaged tooth that cannot be repaired by a filling. The damage may be due to decay, accident, wear, or grinding. The procedure for a crown requires two appointments. During the first appointment, the tooth needing a crown is prepared to support the crown and an impression is made. A temporary crown is placed for the time period in which a dental laboratory is manufacturing the crown. At the second appointment, the crown is cemented into place. Because a local anesthetic is used, there is no pain during either of these visits. Tooth colored crowns match the existing teeth and look as natural as the surrounding teeth.

A bridge is used to replace a missing tooth. A dental bridge is a false tooth that is fused between two crowns and fills in the area left by a missing tooth. The procedure for a bridge also requires just two appointments. An impression is made for the crowns on either side of the missing tooth and the tooth area that is missing. On the second appointment, the bridge is cemented into place. Unlike dentures, a bridge is fixed into place and does not need to be removed.