Crowns and Bridges

Crowns

Crowns, also known as "caps", are dental restorations that cover the tooth and are permanently cemented in place.

Crowns are used to rebuild broken or decayed teeth. Crowns can be made of metal (gold or other metal alloy), porcelain, or a combination of both.

Large restorations (greater than 1/3 the width of the tooth) can compromise the strength of the tooth. Dental restorations rely on a tooth's remaining structure to hold and support them.

Crowns strengthen the tooth by holding the tooth together. Not every large restoration will break. No dentist can tell the future. What we do know is that teeth with large restorations are more at risk for breaking than others. A crown will produce the most predictable successful outcome for your tooth long term.

Crown 1 - Before
Crown 1 - After
Crown 2 - Before
Crown 2 - After

If you have large restorations that you think we should look at give us a call for an appointment at (519) 974-6120.

BRIDGES

When a tooth is missing, the remaining teeth can shift out of their normal position. These teeth can become more susceptable to gum disease. A missing tooth can also lead to changes in the bite which may put stress on the jaws, muscles and other teeth. A bridge consists of a crown on either side of the space with an artifical tooth in the middle (all attached to each other).

The bridge is then cemented in place. The procedure is very similar to making a crown and can be made from the same materials - metal (gold or other metal alloy), porcelain, or a combination of both. To have a bridge made it usually only takes 2 appointments - one for the teeth to be prepared and one for the seating/cementation of the bridge.

Bridge Before
Bridge After

Other options for missing teeth are implants, partials and dentures.

Call us today for a consultation to see if you'd be interested in a crown or bridge (519) 974-6120.