Comprehensive Guide To Dental Crowns And Bridges

Dental Crowns and Bridges are among the most popular dental restoration methods today, helping to restore smiles and improve oral health. However, each type has its structure, functional characteristics, and specific indications for different cases. So, what are Dental Crowns and Bridges? What types of Dental Crowns and Bridges? And in what situations are Dental Crowns and Bridges indicated? Let’s explore this in the article below.

What is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a fixed restoration that covers the entire surface of a tooth, helping to protect and restore the tooth to a size and shape similar to that of a natural tooth. It allows for normal contact with opposing teeth, enabling proper chewing of food. Crowns can be made from various materials, including porcelain, metal, or a combination of both, to suit different purposes depending on the tooth’s location and aesthetic needs. In addition to restoring shape and size, crowns are also used to secure dental bridges, protect teeth after root canal treatment, or cover a dental implant. (source link)

What is a Dental Bridges?

A dental bridge is precisely as its name suggests—a bridge that spans the gap left by one or more missing teeth, supported at both ends by adjacent teeth. It is designed to seamlessly blend with the existing teeth and is permanently fixed in the mouth. Bridges help restore chewing function, improve aesthetics, and maintain the stability of surrounding teeth, preventing them from shifting into the space created by the missing tooth.

In another way, Dental Bridge is a fixed dental restoration (a fixed dental prosthesis) used to replace one or more missing teeth by joining an artificial tooth definitively to adjacent teeth or dental implants. (Source link)

They can be made from various materials such as porcelain, metal, or a combination of both. While bridges can be a viable solution for achieving a complete smile, they require preparation of the adjacent teeth, which may not be suitable for many patients who wish to preserve their natural tooth roots.

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Indications For Dental Crowns

• Severe Tooth Decay or discoloration: when a tooth is significantly damaged, resulting in a large cavity that destroys the enamel and structure of the tooth but can still be retained, or in cases where the tooth has uneven color or appears dull. After removing the decay and discoloration, the dentist will recommend a dental crown as a replacement.

• Cracked and Chipped Teeth: In cases of trauma that result in a tooth having a limited crack or chip, which reduces its strength and load-bearing capacity, a dental crown may be the only solution to prevent the crack from worsening. The crown will cover the entire surface of the tooth, helping to protect it and restore both chewing function and aesthetics.
• Teeth Treated with Root Canal: When a tooth undergoes a root canal, the nerve, and blood vessels are removed from the hollow chamber inside the tooth. This means the tooth no longer receives nourishment, leading to it becoming dry and brittle. This brittleness makes the tooth more susceptible to cracking. Any tooth that has had a root canal should be covered with a crown to prevent it from cracking.

• Stabilizing a Dental Bridge: When one or more teeth are missing, the dentist may recommend a dental bridge to replace the lost teeth. Crowns will be fabricated for the adjacent teeth (abutment teeth) to create a support that connects to the artificial tooth in the gap (pontic). The crowns play a crucial role in ensuring the stability and effectiveness of the dental bridge.
• Covering a Dental Implant: In cases of tooth loss where a dental implant is indicated, after the implant is successfully placed into the jawbone, a crown will be attached to the implant. This is a crucial step in the process of restoring the shape and function of the tooth.

Indications For Dental Bridges

• Loss of One or More Consecutive Teeth: After losing a tooth, a gap is created that affects both aesthetics and chewing and speaking functions. A dental bridge, consisting of artificial teeth fixed to the adjacent teeth (abutment teeth), is the recommended solution in these cases to restore eating function, prevent facial distortion, and enhance aesthetics.
• Not a Candidate for Implant Placement: In cases where a patient has lost a tooth but is not eligible for a dental implant due to unstable bone structure, a dental bridge will be an effective alternative solution.

The Procedure Of Dental Crown And Bridges

Initial consultation and assessment

After examining the teeth and assessing the patient’s oral health, the dentist will discuss the patient’s needs and goals in choosing the appropriate Dental Crowns and Bridges method.

Tooth preparation

After determining the appropriate method for the patient, the dentist will prepare the teeth. In the case of a dental crown, the dentist will remove any decay or damage on the tooth and shape it to fit the crown. For a dental bridge, the dentist will prepare the abutment teeth by reshaping the adjacent teeth next to the missing tooth to accommodate the bridge.

Impressions or digital scans

The third step is to take impressions or digital scans, these will be used to create a model of your mouth and design your custom-made bridge, Dr will also match the shade of your bridge to your natural teeth.

Placement of a temporary crown or bridges

Place a temporary crown on the prepared tooth or a temporary bridge in the gap. This will protect your teeth and allow you to eat and speak normally until your permanent crown and bridge are ready.

Custom fabrication of the permanent crown and bridge

The fifth step is to create the permanent crown and bridge. The dentist will send your dental impressions or digital scans to a dental laboratory, where a skilled technician will fabricate your crown using the materials and specifications you selected. This process may take a few weeks.

Placing Dental Crowns and Bridges

Once the crowns and bridges are completed, the dentist will remove the temporary restorations and proceed to place the permanent crowns or bridges, making any necessary adjustments to ensure a precise fit and proper bite alignment. Finally, care instructions are provided, along with scheduling follow-up appointments for regular maintenance.

Dental Crowns And Bridges At VTA

Our laboratory offers a wide range of materials for crafting crowns and bridges, including lithium disilicate, porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM), zirconia, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and metal alloys.

Each Crown and Bridge restoration created at VTA adheres to strict quality control standards, ensuring that every product delivered to our clients meets perfection in both aesthetics and durability.

Whether you know exactly what you need or are seeking advice on a complex case, we are here for you, providing restorations that suit your needs or guidance to elevate your practice. Contact us today for any information or support you may need.