When it comes to prosthetics for your teeth, two of the most commonly used restorative pieces include dental crowns and bridges. Dental crowns and bridges are used by cosmetic dentists to either protect a tooth or to offer a cosmetic alternative to dental implants or dentures. How is a bridge different from a crown?
A crown is a restorative piece that is created in-office or at a laboratory to be placed over a tooth to protect it or to change the look of the tooth. The dentist will file down the tooth slightly and will follow with impressions. These impressions are used to create a prosthetic tooth which is similar to a “cap” that is bonded over the top of a tooth. It is typically placed on top of teeth that have cracked or have recently received root canal therapy, as this kind of procedure can leave a tooth weak and brittle. Crowns are oftentimes made of porcelain to give them strength and to make them look similar to a natural tooth.
A bridge is a prosthetic used to replace a space that is left behind from a missing natural tooth. The gap is filled with a prosthetic, false tooth, which is constructed with two crowns, one on each side. These crowns are placed on the teeth surrounding the gap in order to give the bridge support. Similar to a crown, bridges are made with the help of impressions, and are laboratory-created before they are placed and bonded onto the teeth by the dentist. By placing a bridge, it can keep the surrounding teeth from shifting and creating misalignment problems down the road.
Dr. Vines of Pure Gold Dental in the Redlands has years of experience offering dental crowns and bridges for his patients. If you are in need of either of these restorations, call Dr. Vines to schedule a consultation appointment and get started improving your smile today!